Standing upon the pavement, you seemed to be peering into a library. Eight feet from the front yawned a tremendous chimney-piece of chiselled stone, topped by a black oak screen and flanked by shelves laden with precious books. Upon the hearth well-wrought andirons bore a fair fire of logs which flamed and glowed engagingly. A broad, low club-kerb, covered in scarlet, compassed the fireplace, and upon a Kulah hearth-rug of unusual beauty a mighty leather chair, patently bursting with philanthropy—the very lap of Luxury—sprawled in the colours of a cardinal. By the head of the chair rose a slender pillar of bronze, bearing a lamp, and by its side, within reach of any that sat upon such a throne, a massive oaken table carried the decent furniture of drink. There were cigarettes there, too, and an ashtray, and, what was more important, an open book. Who passed might read. A CHEVIOT ROOM THAT IS TO SAY, A ROOM DECORATED ACCORDING TO THE ADVICE OF CHEVIOT’S (FOUNDED 1930) From time to time hangings on the left parted to admit the pink of footmen, who added fuel to the fire and swept and garnished the hearth before retiring. So soon as it was dusk the footman switched on the lamp, which was heavily shaded. Save for the flickering fire, this was the sole illuminant. Not until half-past eight were the window curtains drawn and ‘the Cheviot room’ veiled from curious gaze. The door of the shop admitted to a stately entrance-hall, paved with black and white marble, panelled with old grey oak, invisibly lit. Four aged chancel stalls, each dight with a crimson cushion, faced a pair of huge oak doors hung in the opposite wall. On the left, a superb triptych of the Flemish School surmounted a carved oak chest; on the right, a tall case clock rose between two panels which suggested the brush of Dürer. Upon the ceiling was stencilled a golden cipher, whose interlaced initials seemed to be T.B.C. In the centre of the hall was a table, and by the table a bench, heavily carved and bearing a cushion covered with crimson brocade. To such as entered the shop a footman immediately appeared and, conducting them to the table, respectfully drew their attention to an ivory horn-book inlaid with ebony lettering. UPON REQUEST MR. OR MRS. CHEVIOT WILL VISIT YOUR HOUSE TO SURVEY THE ROOM YOU MAY WISH TO DECORATE. THEIR OPINION WILL BE SENT TO YOU THE DAY AFTER THEIR VISIT HAS BEEN PAID. NEITHER FOR THEIR VISIT NOR FOR THEIR OPINION WILL ANY CHARGE BE MADE. UPON FURTHER REQUEST MR. OR MRS. CHEVIOT WILL REVISIT YOUR HOUSE WHEN THE WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND, PROVIDED THE DECORATION IS TO THEIR SATISFACTION, WILL BE PREPARED TO AFFIX TO THE CEILING THE BADGE OR CIPHER WHICH ALONE WILL ENTITLE THE CHAMBER TO BE STYLED ‘A CHEVIOT ROOM.’