cheerful noises of awakening nature. Silence, chillness, and partial
obscurity are depressing influences, and the warm blood flowing
through his veins, ran a trifle more slowly and coldly as he felt
the sort of uncomfortable eerie sensation which is experienced by
the jolliest and most careless traveller, when he first goes down to
the catacombs in Rome. A sort of damp, earthy shudder creeps through
the system, and a dreary feeling of general hopelessness benumbs the
faculties; a morbid state of body and mind which is only to be
remedied by a speedy return to the warm sunlight, and a draught of
generous wine.

Sir Philip, however, held the antique lamp aloft, and descended the
clumsy steps cautiously, counting twenty steps in all, at the bottom
of which he found himself face to face with the closed door. It was
made of hard wood, so hard as to be almost like iron. It was black
with age, and covered with quaint carvings and inscriptions; but in
the middle, standing out in bold relief among the numberless Runic
figures and devices, was written in large well-cut letters the
word--

THELMA

"By Jove!" he exclaimed, "I have it! The girl's name, of course!
This is some private retreat of hers, I suppose,--a kind of boudoir
like my Lady Winsleigh's, only with rather a difference."

And he laughed aloud, thinking of the dainty gold-satin hangings of
a certain room in a certain great mansion in Park Lane, where an
aristocratic and handsome lady-leader of fashion had as nearly made
love to him as it was possible for her to do without losing her