The effect was startling, and
through the panes, freed from the dust and cobwebs of a generation, the
blue distant line of the Pennines could be distinctly seen far away to
the southeast. The floor of the gallery was spread with a fine matting of
a faint golden brown, on which at intervals lay a few old Persian or
Indian rugs. The white panelling of the walls was broken here and there
by a mirror, or a girandole, delicate work of the same date as the
Riesener table; while halfway down two Rose du Barri tapestries faced
each other, glowing in the June sun. It was all spacious--a little
empty--the whole conception singularly refined--the colour lovely.
Melrose stalked on, silently, pulling at his beard. He made no reply to
Undershaw's admiring comments; and the doctor wondered whether he was
already ashamed of the impulse which had made him do so strange a thing.
Presently, he threw open the door he had unlocked the week before,
Undershaw stepped into a room no less attractive than the gallery
outside. A carpet of old Persian, of a faded blue--a few cabinets spaced
along the walls--a few bookcases full of books old and new--a pillared
French clock on the mantelpiece--a comfortable modern sofa, and some
armchairs--branches of white rhododendron in a great enamelled vase--and
two oval portraits on the walls, a gentleman in red, and a gentleman in
blue, both pastels by Latour--in some such way one might have catalogued
the contents of the room.
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