She got out of bed and found the communicating door near to the window.
She turned the handle, but it was locked. Then she saw that the key was still in the lock.
She opened the door and found, as she expected, a very elegantly furnished room.
It was lit by two oil lamps and she guessed they were safer than candles, if they were to be left burning all night. There were vases filled with hothouse carnations on several small tables beside a comfortable sofa and armchairs. Also there were a number of small silver and gold objects.
At the end of the room Solita saw what she was seeking, a Chippendale bookcase.
She hurried across the thick carpet in her bare feet and looked with delight at the books.
They were in English and there were several she had already read. One or two others she h
