The hall was the noblest I had ever seen; it had a stone and
bronze fireplace some twenty or thirty feet long on one side, and
several tall arched doorways on the other. The spaces between the doors
were covered with sculpture, its material being a blue-gray stone
combined or inlaid with a yellow metal, the effect being indescribably
rich. The floor was mosaic of many dark colors, but with no definite
pattern, and the concave roof was deep red in color. Though beautiful,
it was somewhat somber, as the light was not strong. At all events, that
is how it struck me at first on coming in from the bright sunlight. Nor,
it appeared, was I alone in experiencing such a feeling. As soon as we
were inside, the old gentleman, removing his cap and passing his thin
fingers through his white hair, looked around him, and addressing some
of the others, who were bringing in small round tables and placing them
about the hall, said: "No, no; let us sup this evening where we can look
at the sky."
The tables were immediately taken away.
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