They opened a door, and he found himself in a comfortable room.

A table laid for dinner with handsome silver and appointments stood in the middle of the room, which was carpeted with tartar rugs.

One of the Cossacks opened an inner door, which led into a bedroom, snugly furnished.
"It must be the doctor, after all," Charlie murmured to himself, in great surprise.

"I see now that there was plenty of time for a letter to come up here and have gone back again, and I suppose the good fellow has got leave for me to stay for a night in his quarters, before I am handed over to the prison.

Well, for the last three days I have travelled like a prince, and this is the closing act of it." He enjoyed a good wash, then returned to the other room, and sat down in a comfortable chair to wait for his host.