CHAPTER XIV.
The private Cabinet of Sir Giles Mompesson.
A small room, and rendered yet smaller by the numerous chests and strong boxes encroaching upon its narrow limits.

In some cases these boxes are piled, one upon another, till they touch the ceiling.

All of them look stout enough, yet many are further strengthened by iron hoops and broad-headed nails, and secured by huge padlocks.

The door is cased with iron, within and without, and has a ponderous lock, of which the master of the room always keeps the key, and never trusts it out of his own hand.
This small chamber is the private cabinet of Sir Giles Mompesson.
No one is permitted to enter it without him.

Though his myrmidons are fully aware of its existence, and can give a shrewd guess at its contents, only two of them have set foot within it.