They went down into the laboratory. The light was burning. "There you see,
Edgar, I have painted this head with the stuff, and now you can see
nothing more unusual than if it had been daubed with whitewash. Now I will
extinguish the lamp."

Prepared as he was, Edgar nevertheless stepped back with an exclamation of
surprise and almost awe. The head stood out in the darkness with startling
distinctness. It had the effect of being bathed in moonlight, although
much more brilliant than even the light of the full moon. It seemed to
him, indeed, almost as if a faint wavering light played around it, giving
the stern face of the old Roman a sardonic and evil expression.

"You can touch it, Edgar, but you will see that there is not the slightest
warmth."

"It is wonderful, father."

"Yes, it is a strange thing; but is, so far as I can see, of no use save
as a wonder, and it is just one of those wonders that to most people would
seem to be magical. I showed it a short time ago to the prior, having
explained to him beforehand how I had discovered it. He is above the
superstitions of folks in general, and knowing that I could have no motive
in deceiving him, was much interested; but he said to me, 'This is one of
the things that were best concealed. I can quite understand that there are
many things in nature of which we are ignorant. I know that what you say
of decayed fish sometimes giving out light like this is perfectly true,
and everyone knows that the glowworms, when the weather is damp, light up
the banks and fields, although no heat can be felt. Doubtless in your
researches on bones you have discovered some substance akin to that which