So they had a pure Jacobean entrance hall, a Louis XV drawing-room, an Empire bedroom, and as far as I could judge by the barrenness of the apartment, a Spartan study for Adrian.
On our first visit, they triumphantly showed us round the establishment.
We came last to the study.
"No really fine imaginative work," said Adrian, with a wave of the hand indicating the ascetic table and chair, the iron safe, the bookcase and the bare walls--"no really fine imaginative work can be done among luxurious surroundings.

Pictures distract one's attention, arm-chairs and sofas invite to sloth.

This is my ideal of a novelist's workshop." "It's more like a workhouse," said Barbara, with a shiver.

"Or a condemned cell.

But even a condemned cell would have a plank bed in it." "You don't understand a bit," said Doria, with a touch of resentment at adverse criticism of her paragon's idiosyncrasies, "although Adrian has tried to explain it to you.