observe, without interruption, the consequences of this
unexpected signal.

He did not wait long ere the silken curtain was again withdrawn,
and the relic again presented to his view. As he sunk
reverentially on his knee, he heard the sound of the lauds, or
earliest office of the Catholic Church, sung by female voices,
which united together in the performance as they had done in the
former service. The knight was soon aware that the voices were
no longer stationary in the distance, but approached the chapel
and became louder, when a door, imperceptible when closed, like
that by which he had himself entered, opened on the other side of
the vault, and gave the tones of the choir more room to swell
along the ribbed arches of the roof.

The knight fixed his eyes on the opening with breathless anxiety,
and, continuing to kneel in the attitude of devotion which the
place and scene required, expected the consequence of these
preparations. A procession appeared about to issue from the
door. First, four beautiful boys, whose arms, necks, and legs
were bare, showing the bronze complexion of the East, and
contrasting with the snow-white tunics which they wore, entered
the chapel by two and two. The first pair bore censers, which
they swung from side to side, adding double fragrance to the
odours with which the chapel already was impregnated. The second
pair scattered flowers.

After these followed, in due and majestic order, the females who
composed the choir--six, who from their black scapularies, and
black veils over their white garments, appeared to be professed