It was of walnut, and consisted mainly of a stalk and two round slabs not much bigger than dinner-plates.

There were holes in the centre of these slabs for the stalk to go through, and the one slab stood two feet from the floor, the other a foot higher.

The lower slab was fitted with a walnut tobacco-jar and a pipe-rack, while on the upper slab were exquisite little recesses for cigars, cigarettes, matches, and ashes.

These held respectively three cigars, two cigarettes, and four wax vestas.

The smoking-table was an ornament to any room; and the first night I had it I raised my eyes from my book to look at it every few minutes.