Page 27 (1/2)

Julius Ricardo pushed aside the curtains with a thrill of

excite room

which was prettily, even daintily, furnished On his left, close

by the recess, was a srate Beyond the grate a long settee covered in pink

damask, with a crumpled cushion at each end, stood a foot or two

away from the wall, and beyond the settee the door of the roo -table stood by the ht

were the three s, and between the two nearest to Mr Ricardo

was the switch of the electric light A chandelier hung fro-table, a couple

of electric candles on the mantel-shelf A round satinwood table

stood under the ith three chairs about it, of which one

was overturned, one was placed with its back to the electric

switch, and the third on the opposite side facing it

Ricardo could hardly believe that he stood actually upon the spot

where, within twelve hours, a cruel and sinister tragedy had taken

place There was so little disorder The three s on his

right showed hililass doors stood open to the lahere

birds piped cheerfully and the treesquickly frohtness of step for so big ahere and there some detail, some

custom of the inhabitants of that rooainst the wall

"Nohat has this roohtest attention to his question, and it was

just as well For the rooive