And then he was glad he had not abdicated, for as he turned away he glanced again at Mary and saw that, though her eyes were full of trouble, they were not hard and accusing, but charged with appealing friendship.
He went straight to Roderick's apartment, deeming this, at an early hour, the safest place to seek him.

He found him in his sitting-room, which had been closely darkened to keep out the heat.

The carpets and rugs had been removed, the floor of speckled concrete was bare and lightly sprinkled with water.

Here and there, over it, certain strongly perfumed flowers had been scattered.

Roderick was lying on his divan in a white dressing-gown, staring up at the frescoed ceiling.