Altogether it was a very ordinary, and not very promising abode.
But when they were shown BEN to the parlour, Cosmo was struck with nothing less than astonishment: the walls from floor to ceiling were covered with books.

Not a square foot all over was vacant.
Even the chimney-piece was absorbed, assimilated, turned into a book-shelf, and so obliterated.

Mr.Simon's pipe lay on the hob; and there was not another spot where it could have lain.

There was not a shelf, a cupboard to be seen.

Books, books everywhere, and nothing but books! Even the door that led to the closet where he slept, was covered over, and, like the mantleshelf, obliterated with books.