"May I beg one other favour first, before the crowning one of the song?" said M. Varbarriere, with an imposing playfulness. "Mademoiselle, I am sure, tells a story well. Which, I entreat, is the particular room you speak of?" "We call it the green chamber," said Beatrix. "The green chamber--what a romantic title!" exclaimed the large gentleman in black, graciously; "and where is it situated?" he pursued. "We must really put you into it," said Sir Jekyl. "Nothing I should like so well," he observed, with a bow. "That is, of course, whenever it is deserted. You have not been plagued with apparitions, General? Even Lady Jane--and there are no ghost-seers like ladies, I've observed--has failed to report anything horrible." His hand lay on the arm of her chair, and, as he spoke, for a moment pressed hers, which, not choosing to permit such accidents, she, turning carelessly and haughtily toward the other speakers, slipped away. CHAPTER XIV. Music. "And pray, Mademoiselle Marlowe, in what part of the house is this so wonderful room situated?" persisted the grave and reverend signor. "Quite out of the question to describe to one who does not already know the house," interposed Sir Jekyl. "It is next the six-sided dressing-room, which opens from the hatchment gallery--that is its exact situation; and I'm afraid I have failed to convey it," said Sir Jekyl, with one of his playful chuckles. The Druidic-looking Frenchman shrugged and lifted his fingers with a piteous expression of perplexity, and shook his head. "Is there not among these drawings a view of the side of the house where this room lies?" he inquired. "I was looking it out," said Beatrix. "I'll find it, Trixie. Go you and sing us a song," said the Baronet. "I've got them both, papa. Now, Monsieur Varbarriere, here they are. This is the front view--this is the side." "I am very much obliged," said Monsieur examining the drawings curiously. "The room recedes. This large bow-window belongs to it. Is it not so?--wide room?--how long? You see I want to understand everything. Ah! yes, here is the side view. It projects from the side of the older building, I see. How charming! And this is the work of the Italian artist? The style is quite novel--a mixture partly Florentine--really very elegant. Did he build anything more here?" "Yes, a very fine row of stables, and a temple in the grounds," said Sir Jekyl. "You shall see them to-morrow." "The chamber green. Yes, very clever, very pretty;" and having eyed them over again carefully, he said, laying them down-- "A curious as well as a handsome old house, no doubt. Ah! very curious, I dare say," said the sage Monsieur Varbarriere. "Are there here the ground plans?" "We have them somewhere, I fancy, among the title-deeds, but none here," said Sir Jekyl, a little stiffly, as if it struck him that his visitor's curiosity was a trifle less ceremonious than, all things considered, it might be.