by the large open doorway and found themselves in a low hall. There was
no furniture and the floor was mossy.

"It's rather like an Egyptian tomb," said Stewart, and he shivered. The
hall led into a further room, which was open in the centre to the sky,
like the _impluvium_ of a Roman house. It also contained a square basin
of water, which was filled by water bubbling from a lion's mouth carved
in stone. Beyond the _impluvium_ there were two smaller rooms, in one
of which there was a kind of raised stone platform. The house was
completely deserted and empty. Lewis and Stewart said little; they
examined the house in silent amazement.

"Look," said Lewis, pointing to one of the walls. Stewart examined
the wall and noticed that there were traces on it of a faded painted
decoration.

"It's like the wall paintings at Pompeii," he said.

"I think the house is modern," remarked Lewis. "It was probably built by
some eccentric at the beginning of the nineteenth century, who did it up
in Empire style."

"Do you know what time it is?" said Stewart, suddenly. "The sun has set
and it's growing dark."

"We must go at once," said Lewis, "we'll come back here to-morrow." They
walked on in silence. The wood was dim in the twilight, a fitful breeze
made the trees rustle now and again, but the air was just as sultry as
ever. The shapes of the trees seemed fantastic and almost threatening in
the dimness, and the rustle of the leaves was like a human moan. Once or