niches, pinnacles and statues: corner posts ornamented with figures of
kings, priests, saints, monsters, and bagpipers. The windows seem to
multiply themselves as they ascend, with their small panes crossed and
criss-crossed by leaden lines: the fronts of many are slated with slates
cut into lozenge shapes; and many possess the "slate apron" found in
fifteenth century houses, with the slates curved outwardly to protect
the beam.

By the second door you pass down a long passage into what originally was
probably a small yard, but has now been turned into a living-room or
kitchen covered over at the very top of the house by a skylight. This is
an arrangement now peculiar to Brittany. The staircase occupies one side
of the space, and you may trace the windings to the very summit,
curiously arranged at the angles. These singularly-constructed rooms
have given to the houses the name of _lanternes_. Every room has an
enormous fireplace, in which you might almost roast an ox, built partly
of wood and stone, richly carved and ornamented. But let the eye rest
where it will, it is charmed by rich carvings and mouldings, beams
wonderfully sculptured, statues, ancient niches and grotesques.

In one of these houses is to be found a wonderful staircase of carved
oak and great antiquity, that in itself would make Morlaix worth
visiting. It is in the Flamboyant style, and was probably erected about
the year 1500. For Brittany is behind the age in its carvings as much as
in everything else, and this staircase in any other country might safely
be put down to the year 1450. It is of wonderful beauty, and almost
matchless in the world: a marvel of skill and refinement. It possesses
also a _lavoir_, the only known example in existence, with doors to
close when it is not in use; the whole thing a dream of beautiful
sculpture.