The beautiful Paulina opened a
suite of three spacious chambers for the reception of her guests. In
the outer apartment there was a piano; and it was here Paulina sat--
with her constant companion, Matilda Brewer. In the second apartment
were small green velvet-covered tables, devoted to whist and _ecarte_.
The third, and inner, apartment was much larger than either of the
others, and in this room there was a table for _rouge et noir_.
The door of this inner apartment was papered so as to appear when
closed like a portion of the wall. A heavy picture was securely
fastened upon this papered surface, and the door was lined with iron.
Once closed, this door was not easily to be discovered by the eye of a
stranger; and, even when discovered, it was not easily to be opened.
It was secured with a spring lock, which fastened of itself as the door
swung to.
This inner apartment had no windows. It was never used in the day-time.
It was a secret chamber, hidden in the very centre of the house; and
only an architect or a detective officer would have been likely to have
discovered its existence. The walls were hung with red cloth, and
Madame Durski always spoke of this apartment as the Red Drawing-room.
Her servants were forbidden to mention the chamber in their
conversation with the neighbours, and the members of the Austrian
widow's household were too well trained to disobey any such orders.
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