The next instant, another voice answered, "I like that free fresh air. It feels like liberty."
"Liberty!" said the other voice. "Have you ever felt the want of liberty?"
"They are marvellous sweet-tongued officers," thought Van Noost, listening. But no reply was made to the question, or, if any, it was drowned by the cough of the old sexton; and, when that had a little subsided, the second voice which had spoken was heard, saying--
"We want to go all over the church, good Master Mattocks."
Van Noost trembled for the security of his hiding-place; but he was relieved in an instant; for the same voice went on saying--
"So you must show us all the monuments and tell us all about them; for this gentleman will not be satisfied with half information, I can assure you."
"That I will, my lady," answered the old man, "that is to say, all I know; for I never like to say things I only guess."
"My lady!" said Van Noost, to himself. "Ho, ho! It is a party come to visit the church; and I am shut up here like a rat in a rat-trap, when I could have given them much more information than that old mummy, who has dealt so long with corpses that he has caught the look of them. I have a great mind to knock to get out. They'll be in sad want of a better cicerone."
Caution, however, got the better of vanity; and, after a little consideration, he began to feel his way down the steps, resolved to see what the vaults contained. At first, the place seemed dark enough; but, as he descended, he found that he had been admitted, not to funeral vaults in the usual acceptation of the word, but to a crypt or underground church, of a much earlier style of architecture than the structure above. Low arched windows, earthed up for at least two-thirds of their height, admitted sufficient light to render every object round dimly visible. Monuments and carvings were seen in various different directions; and, with true antiquarian enthusiasm, Van Noost soon forgot what was passing above in the examination of all that surrounded him.