They moved to the back of the pile of idols. Behind it appeared a high
partition of gilt and inlaid wood reaching to the ceiling, and
separating the outer from the inner part of the temple. A low archway
passage, protected by carved gates similar to those at the front of the
building, had been formed in the partition, and through this Ulpius and
his prisoners now passed into the recess beyond.
This apartment was considerably smaller than the first hall of the
temple which they had just left. The ceiling and the floor both sloped
downwards together, and here the rippling of the waters of the Tiber was
more distinctly audible to them than in the outer division of the
building. At the moment when they entered it the place was very dark;
the pile of idols intercepted even the little light that could have been
admitted through its narrow entrance; but the dense obscurity was soon
dissipated. Dragging Numerian after him to the left side of the recess,
Ulpius drew back a sort of wooden shutter, and a vivid ray of sunlight
immediately streamed in through a small circular opening pierced in this
part of the temple.
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