In front, to
right and to left, a broad staircase of marble, carpeted with rich thick
Smyrna rug work, led upwards to the upper storeys, which were arranged
around the central court. The temperature within was warm and yet
fresh, like the air of an English May.
"It's taken from the Alhambra," said Raffles Haw. "The palm-trees are
pretty. They strike right through the building into the ground beneath,
and their roots are all girt round with hot-water pipes. They seem to
thrive very well."
"What beautifully delicate brass-work!" cried Robert, looking up with
admiring eyes at the bright and infinitely fragile metal trellis screens
which adorned the spaces between the Moorish arches.
"It is rather neat. But it is not brass-work. Brass is not tough
enough to allow them to work it to that degree of fineness. It is gold.
But just come this way with me. You won't mind waiting while I remove
this smoke?"
He led the way to a door upon the left side of the court, which, to
Robert's surprise, swung slowly open as they approached it.
"That is a little improvement which I have adopted," remarked the master
of the house. "As you go up to a door your weight upon the planks
releases a spring which causes the hinges to revolve.
Pages:
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44