Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Flat,rectagonalpillarsofarose-tinted,variegatedmarble,rosefromtheflooralmostflushwiththewalls,finishingoffatthetopwithgildedcapitalsofaCorinthiandesign,whichsupportedtheceiling.Theceilingitself,insteadofjoiningthewallsatrightangles,curvedtomeetthem,adevicethatproducedasortofdome-likeeffect.Thisceilingwasamazeofgoldeninvolutionsinveryhighrelief,thatadjustedthemselvestoformamassiveframingforagreatpicture,nymphsandgoddesses,whitedoves,goldenchariotsandthelike,allwreathedaboutwithcloudsandgarlandsofroses.Betweenthepillarsaroundthesidesoftheroomwerehangingsofsilk,thedesign—ofaLouisQuinzetype—ofbeautifulsimplicityandfaultlesstaste.Thefireplacewasamarvel.Itreachedfromfloortoceiling;thelowerparts,blackmarble,carvedintocrouchingAtlases,withgreatmusclesthatupborethesuperstructure.Thedesignofthislatter,ofakindofpurplemarble,shotthroughwithwhiteveinings,wasinthesamestyleasthedesignofthesilkhangings.Initsmidstwasabronzeescutcheon,bearinganundecipherablemonogramandaLatinmotto.Andironsofbrass,nearlysixfeethigh,flankedthehearthstone.

           Thewindowsoftheroomwereheavilydrapedinsombrebrocadeandecrulace,inwhichtheinitialsofthefamilywereverybeautifullyworked.Butdirectlyoppositethefireplace,anextrawindow,lightedfromtheadjoiningconservatory,threwawonderful,richlightintotheapartment.