The recess, which was separated from the outer hall by a curtain of
thick coarse stuff, falling to the floor from a beam, the apertures for
the reception of which had been chiselled in the rock, was dimly
illuminated by a single lamp, hanging from a chain, which was in turn
fastened to a pole that stretched directly across the apartment. A small
table in the centre of the room, covered with a piece of cotton cloth, a
few chairs, a broken mirror, and on a shelf that stood trimly in the
corner, a few glasses and decanters, completed the furniture of the
apartment.
On the table at which the outlaw sat, lay his pistols--a huge and
unwieldy, but well-made pair. A short sword, a dirk and one or two other
weapons of similar description, contemplated only for hand-to-hand
purposes, lay along with them; and the better to complete the picture,
now already something _outre_, a decanter of brandy and tumblers were
contiguous.
Rivers did not observe the slide of the curtain to the apartment, nor
the entrance of Dillon.
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