went towards the altar, and passing behind it, pressed a spring,
which, opening without noise, showed a small iron door wrought in
the side of the cavern, so as to be almost imperceptible, unless
upon the most severe scrutiny. The hermit, ere he ventured fully
to open the door, dropped some oil on the hinges, which the lamp
supplied. A small staircase, hewn in the rock, was discovered,
when the iron door was at length completely opened.

"Take the veil which I hold," said the hermit, in a melancholy
tone, "and blind mine eyes; For I may not look on the treasure
which thou art presently to behold, without sin and presumption."

Without reply, the knight hastily muffled the recluse's head in
the veil, and the latter began to ascend the staircase as one too
much accustomed to the way to require the use of light, while at
the same time he held the lamp to the Scot, who followed him for
many steps up the narrow ascent. At length they rested in a
small vault of irregular form, in one nook of which the staircase
terminated, while in another corner a corresponding stair was
seen to continue the ascent. In a third angle was a Gothic door,
very rudely ornamented with the usual attributes of clustered
columns and carving, and defended by a wicket, strongly guarded
with iron, and studded with large nails. To this last point the
hermit directed his steps, which seemed to falter as he
approached it.

"Put off thy shoes," he said to his attendant; "the ground on
which thou standest is holy. Banish from thy innermost heart
each profane and carnal thought, for to harbour such while in
this place were a deadly impiety."