staircase was guarded by a collapsible door. There seemed to be no
point of attack that had been left unguarded.

Yet, unless one had been like ourselves looking for these
fortifications, they would not have appeared much in evidence in
the face of the wealth of artistic furnishings that was lavished
on every hand. Inside the great entrance door was a sort of marble
reception hall, richly furnished, and giving anything but the
impression of a gambling house. As a matter of fact, the first
floor was pretty much of a blind. The gambling was all upstairs.

We turned to a beautiful staircase of carved wood, and ascended.
Everywhere were thick rugs into which the feet sank almost ankle
deep. On the walls were pictures that must have cost a small
fortune. The furniture was of the costliest; there were splendid
bronzes and objects of art on every hand.

Gambling was going on in several rooms that we passed, but the
main room was on the second floor, a large room reconstructed in
the old house, with a lofty ceiling and exquisitely carved trim.
Concealed in huge vases were the lights, a new system, then, which
shed its rays in every direction without seeming to cast a shadow
anywhere. The room was apparently windowless, and yet, though
everyone was smoking furiously, the ventilation must have been
perfect.

There was, apparently, a full-fledged poolroom in one part of the
house, closed now, of course, as the races for the day were run.
But I could imagine it doing a fine business in the afternoon.
There were many other games now in progress, games of every