On its closing after them, De Poininges and his
companion seemed shut out from the world,--as if the link were suddenly
broken which bound them to earth and its connections.
The first sensation was that of dullness and damp, accompanied by a
mouldering vapour, like that from the charnel-house or the grave. Their
way was down a winding and broken staircase; at the bottom a straight
passage led them on to a considerable distance. Damps oozing from the
walls made the path more and more tiresome and slippery as they
proceeded. Shortly it became channelled with slime, and absolutely
loathsome. The bloated reptile crawled across their path; and De
Poininges beheld stone coffins piled on each side of the vault. Passing
these, another flight of steps brought them to a low archway, at the
extremity of which a grated door, now unbarred, led into a cell
seemingly contrived as a place of punishment for the refractory or
sinning brethren, who might be doomed to darkness and solitude as an
expiation of their offence. The only furniture it contained was a
wretched pallet, on which, as the light flashed doubtfully, De Poininges
thought he beheld a female.
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