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and massive； the nose straight and long； the mouth stern and
clear…cut； while the cheekbones were rather high； and the
eyebrows arched。 Such are the characteristics of many handsome
old men of good blood； and as the mummies of Seti and others show
us； such they have been for thousands of years。 Only this man
differed from all others because of the fearful dignity stamped
upon his features。 Looking at him I began to think at once of the
prophet Elijah as he must have appeared rising to heaven；
enhanced by the more earthly glory of Solomon； for although the
appearance of these patriarchs is unknown； of them one conceives
ideas。 Only it seemed probable that Elijah may have looked more
benign。 Here there was no benignity； only terrible force and
infinite wisdom。
Contemplating him I shivered a little and felt thankful that he
was dead。 For to tell the truth I was afraid of that awesome
countenance which； I should add； was of the whiteness of paper；
although the cheeks still showed tinges of colour； so perfect was
the preservation of the corpse。
I was still gazing at it when Bickley said in a voice of
amazement：
〃I say； look here； in the other coffin。〃
I turned； looked； and nearly collapsed on the floor of the
vault； since beauty can sometimes strike us like a blow。 Oh！
there before me lay all loveliness； such loveliness that there
burst from my lips an involuntary cry：
〃Alas！ that she should be dead！〃
A young woman； I supposed； at least she looked young； perhaps
five or six and twenty years of age； or so I judged。 There she
lay； her tall and delicate shape half hidden in masses of
rich…hued hair in colour of a ruddy blackness。 I know not how
else to describe it； since never have I seen any of the same
tint。 Moreover； it shone with a life of its own as though it had
been dusted with gold。 From between the masses of this hair
appeared a face which I can only call divine。 There was every
beauty that woman can boast； from the curving eyelashes of
extraordinary length to the sweet and human mouth。 To these
charms also were added a wondrous smile and an air of kind
dignity； very different from the fierce pride stamped upon the
countenance of the old man who was her companion in death。
She was clothed in some close…fitting robe of white broidered
with gold； pearls were about her neck； lying far down upon the
perfect bosom； a girdle of gold and shining gems encircled her
slender waist； and on her little feet were sandals fastened with
red stones like rubies。 In truth； she was a splendid creature；
and yet； I know not how； her beauty suggested more of the spirit
than of the flesh。 Indeed； in a way； it was unearthly。 My senses
were smitten； it pulled at my heart…strings； and yet its
unutterable strangeness seemed to awake memories within me；
though of what I could not tell。 A wild fancy came to me that I
must have known this heavenly creature in some past life。
By now Bastin had joined us； and； attracted by my exclamation
and by the attitude of Bickley； who was staring down at the
coffin with a fixed look upon his face； not unlike that of a
pointer when he scents game； he began to contemplate the wonder
within it in his slow way。
〃Well； I never！〃 he said。 〃Do you think the Glittering Lady in
there is human？〃
〃The Glittering Lady is dead； but I suppose that she was human
in her life；〃 I answered in an awed whisper。
〃Of course she is dead； otherwise she would not be in that
glass coffin。 I think I should like to read the Burial Service
over her； which I daresay was never done when she was put in
there。〃
〃How do you know she is dead？〃 asked Bickley in a sharp voice
and speaking for the first time。 〃I have seen hundreds of
corpses； and mummies too； but never any that looked like these。〃
I stared at him。 It was strange to hear Bickley； the scoffer at
miracles； suggesting that this greatest of all miracles might be
possible。
〃They must have been here a long time；〃 I said； 〃for although
human； they are not； I think； of any people known to the world
to…day； their dress； everything； shows it； though perhaps
thousands of years ago〃 and I stopped。
〃Quite so；〃 answered Bickley； 〃I agree。 That is why I suggest
that they may have belonged to a race who knew what we do not；
namely； how to suspend animation for great periods of time。〃
I said no more； nor did Bastin； who was now engaged in studying
the old man； and for once； wonderstruck and overcome。 Bickley；
however； took one of the candles and began to make a close
examination of the coffins。 So did Tommy； who sniffed along the
join of that of the Glittering Lady until his nose reached a
certain spot； where it remained； while his black tail began to
wag in a delighted fashion。 Bickley pushed him away and
investigated。
〃As I thought；〃 he said〃air…holes。 See！〃
I looked； and there； bored through the crystal of the coffin in
a line with the face of its occupant； were a number of little
holes that either by accident or design outlined the shape of a
human mouth。
〃They are not airtight；〃 murmured Bickley； 〃and if air can
enter； how can dead flesh remain like that for ages？〃
Then he continued his search upon the other side。
〃The lid of this coffin works on hinges；〃 he said。 〃Here they
are； fashioned of the crystal itself。 A living person within
could have pulled it down before the senses departed。〃
〃No；〃 I answered； 〃for look； here is a crystal bolt at the end
and it is shot from without。〃
This puzzled him； then as though struck by an idea； he began to
examine the other coffin。
〃I've got it！〃 he exclaimed presently。 〃The old god in here〃
（somehow we all thought of this old man as not quite normal）
〃shut down the Glittering Lady's coffin and bolted it。 His own is
not bolted； although the bolt exists in the same place。 He just
got in and pulled down the lid。 Oh！ what nonsense I am talking
for how can such things be？ Let us get out and think。〃
So we crept from the sepulchre in which the perfumed air had
begun to oppress us and sat ourselves。 down upon the floor of the
cave； where for a while we remained silent。
〃I am very thirsty；〃 said Bastin presently。 〃Those smells seem
to have dried me up。 I am going to get some teaI mean water； as
unfortunately there is no tea；〃 and he set off towards the mouth
of the cave。
We followed him； I don't quite know why； except that we wished
to breathe freely outside； also we knew that the sepulchre and
its contents would be as safe as they had been forwell； how
long？
It proved to be a beautiful morning outside。 We walked up and
down enjoying it sub…consciously； for really ourthat is
Bickley's and my ownintelligences were concentrated on that
sepulchre and its contents。 Where Bastin's may have been I do not
know； perhaps in a visionary teapot； since I was sure that it
would take him a day or two to appreciate the signif