At one end of it was a lordly dais,
raised three steps above the inlaid floor, upon which stood a splendid
great arm-chair, almost a throne, under a canopy emblazoned with a
brilliant coat of arms and surmounted by a tuft of nodding plumes. Still
hurrying on, Isabelle next entered a sumptuous bed-chamber, and, as she
paused for an instant to hold up her lamp and look about her, fancied
that she could hear the regular breathing of a sleeper in the immense
bed, behind the crimson silk curtains which were closely drawn around
it. She did not dare to stop and investigate the matter, but flew on her
way, as lightly as any bird, and next found herself in a library, where
the white busts surmounting the well-filled book-cases stared down at
her with their hard, stony eyes, and made her shudder as she nervously
sought for an exit, without delaying one moment to glance at the great
variety of curious and beautiful objects scattered lavishly about,
which, under any ordinary circumstances, would have held her enthralled.
Running at right angles with the library, and opening out of it, was
the picture gallery, where the family portraits were arranged in
chronological order on one side, while opposite to them was a long row
of windows, looking into the court.
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