As he scrambled to the ground he was back in his first exhilaration.

"My lord!" Well, why not?
This was an honest man who knew quality when he met it.
Humming a tune and making a chain of little pools on the stone flags of the hall, Mr.Lovel followed his guide, who bore his shabby valise, another servant having led away the horse.

The hall was dim with flickering shadows cast by the lamp in the doorway, and smelt raw and cold as if the house had been little dwelt in.

Beyond it was a stone passage where a second lamp burned and lit up a forest of monstrous deer horns on the wall.

The butler flung open a door.
"I trust your lordship will approve the preparations," he said.