"Can you see nothing?"
"Nothing," replied Alan.
"You knew Sir Piers Rookwood?"
"Is it he?" asked Alan, drawing near her.
"It is," replied Lady Rookwood; "I have followed him hither, and I will follow him whithersoever he leads me, were it to——"
"What doth he now?" asked Alan; "do you see him still?"
"The figure points to that sarcophagus," returned Lady Rookwood—"can you raise up the lid?"
"No," replied Alan; "my strength will not avail to lift it."
"Yet let the trial be made," said Lady Rookwood; "the figure points there still—my own arm shall aid you."
Alan watched her in dumb wonder. She advanced towards the marble monument, and beckoned him to follow. He reluctantly complied. Without any expectation of being able to move the ponderous lid of the sarcophagus, at Lady Rookwood's renewed request he applied himself to the task. What was his surprise, when, beneath their united efforts, he found the ponderous slab slowly revolve upon its vast hinges, and, with little further difficulty, it was completely elevated; though it still required the exertion of all Alan's strength to prop it open, and prevent its falling back.