Wait a moment and I'll see if they are ready to receive you." He returned almost instantly, and asked Harry to go in with him.
They entered a large room, with a dais at the center of the far wall, and a number of heavy gilt chairs covered with velvet ranged on either side of it.

Over the dais hung a large portrait of Queen Victoria as a girl in her coronation robes.

A Scotch society had occupied this room, but the people of Charleston had always taken part in their festivities.
In those very velvet chairs the chaperons had sat while the dancing had gone on in the hall.

Then the leaders of secession had occupied them, when they put through their measure, and now they were sitting there again, deliberating.
A man of middle years and of quick, eager countenance arose when young St.Clair came in with Harry.
"Mr.Yancey," said St.Clair, "this is Henry Kenton, the son of Colonel George Kenton, who has come from Kentucky with important letters." Yancey gave him his hand and a welcome, and Harry looked with intense interest at the famous Alabama orator, who, with Slidell, of South Carolina, and Toombs of Georgia, had matched the New England leaders in vehemence and denunciation.

Mr.Slidell, an older man, was present and so was Mr.Jamison, of Barnwell, who had presided when secession was carried.