One of the nuns informed me that none but priests and Superiors are laid in that tomb.  When these die in full communion with the church, the body is embalmed, and placed here, but it sometimes happens that a priest or Superior is found in the convent who does not believe all that is taught by the church of Rome.  They desire to investigate the subject—­to seek for more light—­more knowledge of the way of salvation by Christ.  This, with the Romanists is a great sin, and the poor hapless victim is at once placed under punishment.  If they die in this condition, their bodies are cast out as heretics, but if they confess and receive absolution, they are placed in the tomb, but not embalmed.  The flesh, of course, decays, and then the bones are thrown under the shelves.  Never shall I forget how frightful those bones appeared to me, or the cold shudder that thrilled my frame at the sight of the numerous human skulls that lay scattered around.

Twenty-four hours I spent in this abode of the dead, without rest or sleep.  The attempt to obtain either would have been sheer madness, for the least mis-step, the least unguarded motion, or a slight relaxation of the firm grasp by which I held on to the shelves, would have plunged me headlong into the dark water, from which escape would have been impossible.  For thirty hours I had not tasted food, and my limbs, mangled and badly swollen, were so stiff with long standing, that, when allowed to leave the tomb, I could hardly step.  When the priest came to let me out, he seemed to think it necessary to say something to cover his attempt to deceive and frighten me, but he only made a bad matter worse.  He said that after he left me, he thought he would try me once more, and see if I would not do my duty better; he had, therefore, willed the dead not to eat me!  And they, obedient to his will, were compelled to let me alone!  I did not reply to this absurd declaration, lest I should say something I ought not, and again incur his displeasure.  Indeed, I was not expected to say anything, unless I returned thanks for his unparalleled kindness, and I was not hypocrite enough for that.  I suppose he thought I believed all he said, but he was greatly mistaken.  If I began to doubt his word while in the tomb, this ridiculous pretence only served to add contempt to unbelief, and from that time I regarded him as a deceiver, and a vile, unscrupulous, hypocritical pretender.

It was with the greatest difficulty that I again made my way to the kitchen.  I was never very strong, even when allowed my regular meals, for the quantity, was altogether insufficient, to satisfy the demands of nature; and now I had been so long without anything to eat, I was so weak, and my limbs so stiff and swollen, I could hardly stand.  I managed, however, to reach the kitchen, when I was immediately seated at