I suppose their inhabitants left them in search of fresh air." "Why did they leave them ?" I asked of Yva.
"Because death took them," she answered solemnly.

"Even those who live a thousand years die at last, and if they have no children, with them dies the race." "Then were you the last of your people ?" I asked.
"Inquire of my father," she replied, and led the way through the massive arch of a great building.
It led into a walled courtyard in the centre of which was a plain cupola of marble with a gate of some pale metal that looked like platinum mixed with gold.

This gate stood open.

Within it was the statue of a woman beautifully executed in white marble and set in a niche of some black stone.

The figure was draped as though to conceal the shape, and the face was stern and majestic rather than beautiful.