The single ray of light, admitted from the circular aperture of the
wall, fell wild and fantastic over the widely-differing figures of the
three, as they stood so strangely united together before the abyss that
opened beneath them. The shadows were above and the shadows were
around; there was no light in the ill-omened place but the one vivid ray
that streamed over the gaunt figure of Ulpius, as he still pointed into
the darkness; over the rigid features of Numerian, praying in the
bitterness of expected death; and over the frail youthful form of
Antonina as she nestled trembling at her father's side. It was an
unearthly and a solemn scene!
Meanwhile the shadow which the girl had observed on the pavement before
the doorway of the temple now appeared there again, but not to retire as
before; for, the instant after, Goisvintha stealthily entered the outer
apartment of the building left vacant by its first occupants. She
passed softly around the pile of idols, looked into the inner recess of
the temple, and saw the three figures standing together in the ray of
light, gloomy and motionless, before the mouth of the cavity.
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