"Charmazel!" answered the penetrating unknown voice; and as it
thrilled upon the air like a sob of pain, a dim light began to
shine through the gloom, waveringly at first, then more steadily,
till it gradually spread wide, illuminating with a pale and
spectral light the place in which he found himself,--a place more
weird and wondrous than any mystic scene in dream-land. He
stumbled forward giddily, utterly bewildered, staring about him
like a man in delirium, and speechless with mingled horror and
amazement. He was alone--utterly alone in a vast square chamber,
the walls and roof of which were thickly patterned and glistening
with gold. Squares of gold were set in the very pavement on which
he trod, and at the furthest end of the chamber, a magnificent
sarcophagus of solid gold, encrusted with thousands upon thousands
of jewels, which were set upon it in marvellous and fantastic
devices, glittered and flashed with the hues of living fire.
Golden cups, golden vases, a golden suit of armor, bracelets and
chains of gold intermixed with gems, were heaped up against the
walls and scattered on the floor; and a round shield of ivory
inlaid with gold, together with a sword in a jewelled sheath, were
placed in an upright position against the head of the sarcophagus,
from whence all the spectral and mysterious light seemed to
emerge. With thickly beating heart and faltering pulses Gervase
still advanced, gazing half entranced, half terrified at the
extraordinary and sumptuous splendor surrounding him, muttering
almost unconsciously as he moved along:

"A king's sepulchre,--a warrior's tomb! How came I here?--and why?
Is this a trysting-place for love as well as death?--and will she
come to me? ..."