The room was in black darkness, only a small lamp was burning inside something white.

Pierre went nearer and saw that the lamp stood on a black table on which lay an open book.

The book was the Gospel, and the white thing with the lamp inside was a human skull with its cavities and teeth.

After reading the first words of the Gospel: "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God," Pierre went round the table and saw a large open box filled with something.

It was a coffin with bones inside.