It was strange to hear Bickley, the scoffer at miracles, suggesting that this greatest of all miracles might be possible.
"They must have been here a long time," I said, "for although human, they are not, I think, of any people known to the world to-day; their dress, everything, shows it, though perhaps thousands of years ago--" and I stopped.
"Quite so," answered Bickley; "I agree.

That is why I suggest that they may have belonged to a race who knew what we do not, namely, how to suspend animation for great periods of time." I said no more, nor did Bastin, who was now engaged in studying the old man, and for once, wonderstruck and overcome.

Bickley, however, took one of the candles and began to make a close examination of the coffins.
So did Tommy, who sniffed along the join of that of the Glittering Lady until his nose reached a certain spot, where it remained, while his black tail began to wag in a delighted fashion.

Bickley pushed him away and investigated.
"As I thought," he said--"air-holes.

See!" I looked, and there, bored through the crystal of the coffin in a line with the face of its occupant, were a number of little holes that either by accident or design outlined the shape of a human mouth.
"They are not airtight," murmured Bickley; "and if air can enter, how can dead flesh remain like that for ages ?" Then he continued his search upon the other side.
"The lid of this coffin works on hinges," he said.