In the background, a straight holder, on a level with the ground, upheld the large tapers, which, like the pipes of an organ, formed a row of uneven height, some of them being as large as a man's thigh.

And yet other holders, resembling massive candelabra, stood here and there on the jutting parts of the rock.

The vault of the Grotto sank towards the left, where the stone seemed baked and blackened by the eternal flames which had been heating it for years.

And the wax was perpetually dripping like fine snow; the trays of the holders were smothered with it, whitened by its ever-thickening dust.

In fact, it coated the whole rock, which had become quite greasy to the touch; and to such a degree did it cover the ground that accidents had occurred, and it had been necessary to spread some mats about to prevent persons from slipping.
"You see those large ones there," obligingly continued Baron Suire.