Nor could the young bride any longer deny that a radiance was breaking through the mist and changing its dim hue to a dusky red , which continually grew more vivid , as if brilliant particles were interfused with the gloom . Now , also , the cloud began to roll away from the mountain , while , as it heavily withdrew , one object after another started out of its impenetrable obscurity into sight with precisely the effect of a new creation before the indistinctness of the old chaos had been completely swallowed up . As the process went on they saw the gleaming of water close at their feet , and found themselves on the very border of a mountain-lake , deep , bright , clear and calmly beautiful , spreading from brim to brim of a basin that had been scooped out of the solid rock . A ray of glory flashed across its surface . The pilgrims looked whence it should proceed , but closed their eyes , with a thrill of awful admiration , to exclude the fervid splendor that glowed from the brow of a cliff impending over the enchanted lake . For the simple pair had reached that lake of mystery and found the long-sought shrine of the Great Carbuncle . They threw their arms around each other and trembled at their own success , for as the legends of this wondrous gem rushed thick upon their memory they felt themselves marked out by fate , and the consciousness was fearful . Often from childhood upward they had seen it shining like a distant star , and now that star was throwing its intensest lustre on their hearts . They seemed changed to one another 's eyes in the red brilliancy that flamed upon their cheeks , while it lent the same fire to the lake , the rocks and sky , and to the mists which had rolled back before its power . But with their next glance they beheld an object that drew their attention even from the mighty stone . At the base of the cliff , directly beneath the Great Carbuncle , appeared the figure of a man with his arms extended in the act of climbing and his face turned upward as if to drink the full gush of splendor . But he stirred not , no more than if changed to marble . `` It is the Seeker , '' whispered Hannah , convulsively grasping her husband 's arm . `` Matthew , he is dead . '' `` The joy of success has killed him , '' replied Matthew , trembling violently . `` Or perhaps the very light of the Great Carbuncle was death . '' '' ` The Great Carbuncle ' ! '' cried a peevish voice behind them . `` The great humbug ! If you have found it , prithee point it out to me . ''
They turned their heads , and there was the cynic with his prodigious spectacles set carefully on his nose , staring now at the lake , now at the rocks , now at the distant masses XXXXX vapor , now right at the Great Carbuncle itself , yet seemingly as unconscious of its light as if all the scattered clouds were condensed about his person .
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