The Living Age Volume 185 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1890 edition. Excerpt: ... as nothing would induce him to remain behind. By the time I had reached the bottom of the stairs I found myself almost proper key to fit into it. The door, which was of wood, opened inwards fairly easily, although an accumulation of mould and rubbish on the ground outside showed it had not-been used for many years. Having got through it, which was not altogether an easy matter, as nothing would induce it to open more than about eighteen inches, I carefully locked it behind me, although I should have preferred to leave it open, as there is to some minds an unpleasant feeling in being locked in anywhere, in case of a sudden exit seeming advisable. I kept my candle alight with some dimculty, and after groping my way down a low and of course exceedingly dank passage, came to another door. I noticed that it was of iron, and had a long bolt, which, however, was broken. Vithout delay I fitted the second key into the lock, and pushing the door open after considerable difiiculty, I felt the cold breath of the crypt upon my face. I mustown I experienced a momentary regret at locking the second door again as soon as I was well inside, but I felt it my duty to do so. Then, leaving the key in the lock, lseized my candle and looked round. I was standing inalow vaulted chamber with groined roof, cut out of the solid rock. It was difficult to. see where the cryptended, as furtherlight thrown on any point only showed other rough archways or openings, cut in the rock, which had probably served at one time for family vaults. A peculiarity of the Wet Vaste crypt, which I had not noticed in other places of thatdescription. was the beautiful arrangement of skulls and bones which were packed about four feet high on either side. The skulls were...