Angels and Women (1924)

FINDING THE MANUSCRIPT 9tured characters, we perceived a cross ofpeculiar design.Upon a marble slab slightly raised fromthe floor, a heap of dust, tattered fibre, andshreds of gold outlined two human figureslying in the set repose of the dead. Diademsthat once crowned the heads of the sleepershad fallen to the floor, and by the side ofone of the forms, where the hand had been,was a cylindrical object which we immediatelysecured.Then the leader of our party spoke:"No doubt this is one of the oldest tombsin the world. The inscriptions must antedateeven those of the subterranean templesof Ellora and Elephanta. But why shouldwe with irreverent hand disturb these venerableashes? Let them repose, as we ourselveshope to rest till called forth in theawakening."Without further words he ordered thedoor to be carefully replaced, and we left1 See Appendix, Note 1.