But I want some breakfast, mother." "Rosa shall serve you at once, my lord." The girl followed Rupert up the narrow crazy staircase of the tall old house.

They passed three floors, all uninhabited; a last steep flight that brought them right under the deep arched roof.

Rupert opened a door that stood at the top of the stairs, and, followed still by Rosa with her mysterious happy smile, entered a long narrow room.

The ceiling, high in the centre, sloped rapidly down on either side, so that at door and window it was little more than six feet above the floor.

There was an oak table and a few chairs; a couple of iron bedsteads stood by the wall near the window.