Assisted by a library ladder which stood against the book-case, I looked next into the two china bowls.

Both were perfectly empty.

Was there anything more to examine on that side of the room?
In the two corners there were two little chairs of inlaid wood, with red silk cushions.

I turned them up and looked under the cushions, and still I made no discoveries.

When I had put the chairs back in their places my search on one side of the room was complete.