The Strand Magazine : an illustrated monthly. Vol. 1, no. 1, January 1891 / edited by George Newnes.
- Date:
- 1891
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The Strand Magazine : an illustrated monthly. Vol. 1, no. 1, January 1891 / edited by George Newnes. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![be asleep in his box. Enter as soon as it strikes eleven, and go upstairs as fast as possible. If you find anyone in the ante¬ chamber, ask whether the Countess is at home, and you will be told that she is out, and, in that case, you must resign yourself and go away. In all probability, however! you will meet no one. The Countess’s women are together in a distant room. When you are once in the ante-chamber turn to the left, and walk straight on, until you reach the Countess’s bedroom. There behind a large screen, you will see two doors. The one on the right kads to ^a dark room. The one on the left leads to a corridor, at the end of which is a little winding staircase, which leads to mv par¬ lour.” ^ At ten o’clock Hermann was already on duty before the Countess’s door. It was a frightful night. The winds had been unloosed, and the snow was falling in large flakes ; the lamps gave an uncertain light ; the streets were deserted ; from time to time passed a sleigh, drawn by a wretched hack, on the look-out for a fare. Covered by a thick overcoat, Her¬ mann felt neither the wind nor the snow. At last the Countess’s carriage drew up. He saw two huge footmen come forward and take be¬ neath the arms a dilapidated spectre, and place it on the cushions, well wrapped up in an enormous fur cloak. Immediately afterwards, in a cloak of lighter make, her head crowned with natural flowers,^ came Lisabeta, who sprang into the carriage like a dart. The door was closed, and the carriage rolled on softly over the snow. The porter closed the street door, and soon the windows of the first floor became ^rk. Silence reigned throughout the house. Hermann walked backAvards and forwards • then coming to a lamp he looked at his watch. It was twenty minutes to eleven. Leaning against the lamp-post, his eyes fixed on^ the long hand of his Avatch, he counted impatiently the minutes Avhich had ^t to pass. At eleven o’clock precisely •riGrruann, Ayalked up the steps, ppshed open the street door, and went into the vestibule Avhich Avas well lighted. As it happened the porter Avas not there. With a firm and rapid step he rushed up the staircase and reached the ante-chamber. There, before a lamp, a footman Avas sleeping, stretched out m a dirty greasy dressing-gown. Hermann passed quickly before him and crossed the dining-room and the draAving-room, Avhere there Avas no light But the lamp of the ante-chamber helped him to see. At last he reached the Countess’s bedroom. Before A FOOTMAN IN A GREASY DRESSING GOWN,” 3. screen covered Avith old icons [sacn pictures] a golden lamp AA^as burning. G] arm-chairs, sofas of faded colours, furnishe Avith soft cushions, Avere arranged symm tiically along the Avails, Avhich Avere hur Avith China silk. He saAv tAvo large po; traits, painted by Madame le Brim. Oi represented a man of forty, stout and fr coloured, dressed in a light green coa Avith a decoration on his breast. T1 second portrait Avas that of an elegant your \voman, Avith an aquiline nose, poAvdeye](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b3047940x_0126.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
