hewinesparkledinhiseyesandhebellsjingledmyownfancygrewwarmwihhemedocwehadpassedhroughlongwallsofpiledbones,wihcasksandpuncheonsinermingling,inoheinmosrecessesofhecaacombsipausedagain,andhisimeimadeboldoseizeforunaobyanarmaboveheelbow

“henire！”isaid,“see,iincreasesihangslikemossuponhevaulswearebelowheriver’sbedhedropsofmoisurerickleamonghebonescome,wewillgobackereiisooeyourcough—”

“iisnohing,”hesaid,“leusgoonbufirs,anoherdraughofhemedoc”

ibrokeandreachedhimafgonofdegraveheempiediaabreahhiseyesfshedwihafiercelighheughedandhrewheboleupwardswihagesicuionididnoundersand

ilookedahiminsurpriseherepeaedhemovemen—agroesqueone

“youdonocomprehend？”hesaid

“noi,”ireplied

“henyouarenoofhebroherhood”

“how？”

“youarenoofhemasons”

“yes,yes,”isaid,“yes！yes”

“you？impossible！amason？”

“amason,”ireplied

“asign,”hesaid,“asign？”

“iishis,”ianswered,producingarowelfrombeneahhefoldsofmyroqueure

“youjes,”heexcimed,recoilingafewpaces“buleusproceedoheamonildo”

“beiso,”isaid,repcingheoolbeneahhecloak,andagainofferinghimmyarmheleaneduponiheavilyweconinuedourroueinsearchofheamonildowepassedhrougharangeoflowarches,descended,passedon,anddescendingagain,arrivedaadeepcryp,inwhichhefoulnessofheaircausedourfmbeauxraheroglowhanfme

ahemosremoeendofhecryphereappearedanoherlessspaciousiswallshadbeenlinedwihhumanremains,piledohevauloverhead,inhefashionofhegreacaacombsofparishreesidesofhisineriorcrypweresillornamenedinhisma

erfromhefourhsideheboneshadbeenhrowndown,andypromiscuouslyuponheearh,formingaonepoinamoundofsomesizewihinhewallhusexposedbyhedispcingofhebones,weperceivedasillineriorcryporrecess,indephaboufourfee,inwidhhree,inheighsixorseveniseemedohavebeenconsrucedfornoespecialusewihiniself,buformedmerelyheinervalbeweenwoofhecolossalsupporsofheroofofhecaacombs,andwasbackedbyoneofheircircumscribingwallsofsolidgranie

iwasinvainhaforunao,uplifinghisdullorch,endeavouredopryinohedephsofherecessiserminaionhefeeblelighdidnoenableusosee

“proceed,”isaid,“hereinisheamonildoasforluchesi—”

“heisanignoramus,”inerrupedmyfriend,asheseppedunseadilyforward,whileifollowedimmediaelyahisheelsinaninsanhehadreachedheexremiyofheniche,andfindinghisprogressarresedbyherock,soodsupidlybewilderedamomenmoreandihadfeeredhimohegranieinissurfacewerewoironsaples,disanfromeachoherabouwofee,horizonallyfromoneofhesedependedashorchainfromheoherapadlockhrowinghelinksabouhiswais,iwasbuheworkofafewsecondsosecureihewasoomuchasoundedoresiswihdrawinghekeyiseppedbackfromherecess

“passyourhand,”isaid,“overhewall,youca

ohelpfeelinghenireindeediisverydamponcemorelemeimploreyouoreurnno？henimusposiivelyleaveyoubuimusfirsrenderyouallhelileaenionsinmypower”

“heamonildo！”ejacuedmyfriend,noyerecoveredfromhisasonishmen

“rue,”ireplied,“heamonildo”

asisaidhesewordsibusiedmyselfamonghepileofbonesofwhichihavebeforespokenhrowinghemaside,isoonuncoveredaquaniyofbuildingsoneandmorarwihhesemaerialsandwihheaidofmyrowel,ibeganvigorouslyowallupheenranceofheniche

ihadscarcelyidhefirsierofmymasonrywhenidiscoveredhaheinoxicaionofforunaohadinagreameasurewornoffheearliesindicaionihadofhiswasalowmoaningcryfromhedephofherecessiwasnohecryofadrunkenmanherewasalongandobsinaesilenceiidhesecondier,andhehird,andhefourh;andheniheardhefuriousvibraionsofhechainhenoisesedforseveralminues,duringwhich,haimighhearkenoiwihhemoresaisfacion,iceasedmyboursandsadownuponheboneswhenashecnkingsubsided,iresumedherowel,andfinishedwihouinerrupionhefifh,hesixh,andhesevenhierhewallwasnownearlyuponalevelwihmybreasiagainpaused,andholdinghefmbeauxoverhemasonwork,hrewafewfeebleraysuponhefigurewihin

asuccessionofloudandshrillscreams,bursingsuddenlyfromhehroaofhechainedform,seemedohrusmeviolenlybackforabriefmomenihesiaed,irembledunsheahingmyrapier,ibeganogropewihiabouherecess;buhehoughofaninsanreassuredmeipcedmyhanduponhesolidfabricofhecaacombs,andfelsaisfiedireapproachedhewallirepliedoheyellsofhimwhocmouredireechoed,iaided,isurpassedheminvolumeandinsrenghididhis,andhecmourergrewsill

iwasnowmidnigh,andmyaskwasdrawingoacloseihadcompleedheeighh,heninh,andheenhierihadfinishedaporionofhesandheelevenh;hereremainedbuasinglesoobefiedandpseredinisruggledwihisweigh;ipcedipariallyinisdesinedposiionbunowherecamefromouhenichealowughhaerecedhehairsuponmyheadiwassucceededbyasadvoice,whichihaddifficulyinrecognisingashaofhenobleforunaohevoicesaid—