ubert had
partially furnished the rooms for himself, and thus done away with the
bare and ungarnished appearance usually characteristic of a London
lodging.

Miss West glanced around the room on her first entry with some
astonishment largely commingled with admiration. The mixture of luxury
and disorder which met her eyes might have surprised even persons more
conversant with the world than Cynthia West. The golden-brown plush
curtains between the rooms were half pushed back, and showed that the
back-room had been turned into a library. Shelves crowded with books,
tables heaped with them, a great writing-table and a _secretaire_ showed
that Mr. Lepel used the room for what might be called "professional"
purposes. But in the front drawing-room there had been attempts--and not
unsuccessful attempts--at more artistic decoration. The curtains were of
exquisite brocade, some charming etchings adorned the walls, great
porcelain bowls of flowers had been placed on the oddly-shaped little
tables that stood about the room. A pianette had been pulled out from
the wall, and an Algerian shawl glistening with gold was loosely thrown
over its back. Other articles of decoration were suggestive of foreign
travel. A collection of murderous-looking weapons had been fastened on
the wall between the two windows, some Eastern embroideries were thrown
here and there over the furniture, and an inlaid mother-o'-pearl stool,
an enormous narghileh, and some Japanese kakemonos gave the room quite
an outlandish air. In spite of its oddness, there was a brightness and
pleasantness about the place, due to the gay tints of the Oriental
stuffs, and the hue and fragrance of the flowers with which pots and
bowls and vases were plentifully filled.

"Yes, take off your hat and cloak, please," said Hubert, "if you do not
mind the trouble."

"It is no trouble at all; I can sing much better without my outdoor
things," replied the girl promptly.

She took off her little black-and-white hat and her neat little jacket,
and displayed herself in a closely-fitting black gown which suited her
admirably, in spite of its plainness. There was no touch of color or
sign of ornament; a rim of white collar around the neck and white cuffs
at her wrists gave the only relief to the gown's sombre hue. And yet,
with the vivid beauty of her face above the plain dark garment, it
seemed as if she could not have found a garb that was more absolutely
becoming. She stood beside