What could I do, under such circumstances, but hand over my card, still protesting?  Two minutes later my new acquaintance reappeared with an invitation for me to walk upstairs.  I was ushered into a large room, with the light so greatly dimmed by the closed jalousies, and the bare floor polished to such a glass-like slipperiness by the daily application of beeswax that I first ran foul of a chair, and then very nearly foundered in the endeavour to preserve my balance.  I thought I caught a sound somewhat like that of a suppressed titter, but could not be certain.  I, however, heard a very gentle and musical voice say: