Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter III
Inafewsecondsthesoundofhisbuggywheelswaslostinthemuffledroarofthedownpour.
HarranandPresleyclosedthebarnandreturnedtothehouse,shelteringthemselvesunderatarpaulincarriagecover.Onceinside,HarranwenttoremonstratewithOsterman,whowasstillup.Magnushadagainretired.Thehousehadfallenquietagain.
AsPresleycrossedthedining-roomonthewaytohisownapartmentinthesecondstoryofthehouse,hepausedforamoment,lookingabouthim.Inthedulllightoftheloweredlamps,theredwoodpanellingoftheroomshowedadarkcrimsonasthoughstainedwithblood.Onthemassiveslabofthediningtablethehalf-emptiedglassesandbottlesstoodaboutintheconfusioninwhichtheyhadbeenleft,reflectingthemselvesdeepintothepolishedwood;theglassdoorsofthecaseofstuffedbirdswasasubduedshimmer;themany-colouredNavajoblanketoverthecouchseemedamerepatchofbrown.
Aroundthetablethechairsinwhichthemenhadsatthroughouttheeveningstillrangedthemselvesinasemi-circle,vaguelysuggestiveoftheconferenceofthepastfewhours,withallitspossibilitiesofgoodandevil,itssignificanceofafuturebigwithportent.Theroomwasstill.OnlyonthecushionsofthechairthatAnnixterhadoccupied,thecat,PrincessNathalie,atlastcomfortablysettledinheraccustomedplace,dozedcomplacently,herpawstuckedunderherbreast,fillingthedesertedroomwiththesubduedmurmurofhercontentedpurr.
