"
"I think," said Lady Mabel, reflecting, "I have myself met with more
than one gentleman rogue."
"That is impossible," said L'Isle, "for a gentleman is a
superstructure which can be built on only one foundation--an honest
man."
"We had better stop defining the gentleman," said Lady Mabel, "lest
between us we narrow down the class, until there are not enough left
to officer a regiment, or for any other useful purpose."
"This is a fine old building," said Mrs. Shortridge, peeping into the
church, "and it will be a convenient time to look at it, for it seems
quite empty."
"It is not much worth seeing," said L'Isle, "but there is something
beyond it which I would like to show you."
They walked into it; but Moodie at first hung back, and hesitated to
enter this idolatrous temple, until, luckily remembering the prophet's
permission to Naaman the Syrian to accompany his master to the house
of Rimmon, he swallowed his scruples, and followed Lady Mabel.
Passing through the church, they came to an archway, over which was
inscribed--
Nos os ossos que aqui estamos
Pelos vossos esperamos.
Passing through it, they found themselves in a huge vault, its arched
ceiling supported by large square piers, which, with the walls, were
covered with human skulls, set in a hard cement.
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