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Marie Corelli  “Charmazel!” answered the penetrating unknown
voice; and as it thrilled upon the air like a sob of pain, a dim
light began to shine through the gloom, waveringly at first,
then more steadily, till it gradually spread wide, illuminating
with a pale and spectral light the place in which he found
himself,—­a place more weird and wondrous than any mystic scene
in dream-land.  He stumbled forward giddily, utterly bewildered,
staring about him like a man in delirium, and speechless with
mingled horror and amazement.  He was alone—­utterly alone in a
vast square chamber, the walls and roof of which were thickly
patterned and glistening with gold.  Squares of gold were set in
the very pavement on which he trod, and at the furthest end of
the chamber, a magnificent sarcophagus of solid gold, encrusted
with thousands upon thousands of jewels, which were set upon it
in marvellous and fantastic devices, glittered and flashed with
the hues of livin