THE SECRET CHAMBER

It was a vast apartment of stone, but the rugged walls were nearly
covered with the most rare and beautiful hangings -- curtains,
tapestries and strange oriental rugs. Numerous paintings apparently of
great value also hung about, or stood on the floor leaning against the
wall. The stone floor was deep with rugs and fine furs. A number of
couches, wide and comfortable, were set here and there, and one corner
of the room was hidden by a great black and gold screen. From this
corner came the comforting odor of coffee.

Professor Morris sniffed it with joy.

In the center of the ceiling hung a simple drop light of great power
illuminating the place with almost the glare of sunlight. Beneath the
light stood a large table littered with magazines, papers and articles
of value. Beside it, in a deep easy chair, sat a woman. She was about
forty years of age and beautiful. Her garments were very rich, and she
sat listlessly leaning her head on her hand for she had been weeping.
At her side, evidently bent on comforting her mistress, knelt a woman
in the costume of a servant. A footman in livery stood at attention
behind her chair. Even in that strange, sunless, underground place,
everything in sight, confused though it was, gave evidence of immense
wealth and luxury.

After the dark, blank, twisted passages, and the horrors so lately
escaped in the room above them, the scene seemed unreal enough to be a
dream. As they appeared through the small square in the floor and
stood in a hesitating group the lady in the easy chair leaned forward