18 A FRISKY M.\TRON
had evidently been fitted up by a man who had ver>-
clear ideas as to the best way of making himself
comfortable. The furniture was handsome and solid.
There was a grand piano, there were sybaritic chairs
for the luxuriously lazy, double-action rocking-chairs
to swing backwards and forwards, or right and left,
at wiU to pitch or roll, and long-arm black-wood
chairs in which the feet rest on supports as high as
the head, with plaques which can be drawn out on
each side: one for cigars, the other for glasses.
There were deck-chairs of many kinds for those
who preferred a cane-bottomed seat. The pictures
were few and small, but good. Some sketches of
trotting horses were very spirited indeed. Yussuff
soon came to terms with the notary, and did not
consider that he had done badly when he obtained
full possession for a sum of eight thousand francs.
He quickly transferred his goods and chattels
from the Gare de Lyon, and in a few hours his
menage was regulated. Three tiger-skins of unusual
size with the claws on and a very fine sambre head
were trophies to be proud of. A battery of rifles and
several Oriental antique weapons, Khyber scimitars,
tulwars, and zirah bactars of great beauty, with some
Kashmir shawls and Delhi ornaments of gold and
silver, gave a trace of tropical tinge to the general
colouring, which was enhanced by the brilliant tints
of the attire now donned by the two dark servants,
of whom one remained always in the ante-room, im¬
movable and patient, still as a statue, awaiting that
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