The thought came to him that if he was making a mistake it would be a terrible mistake.

It held his hand for a moment.

Then, slowly, he pushed the door inward and followed it until he stood inside.

The first thing that he noticed was a big brass lamp, of the old style, brought over from England by the Company a hundred years ago, and he held his breath in anticipation of something tremendous impending.

At first he saw nothing that impressed him forcibly.