A few seconds sufficed to clear the passage, through which it had previously cost him more than two hours to force his way. It was a neat, efficient-looking room, with a writing-table placed with a business-like regard to the window, and a bookcase surmounted by a pig’s skull, a dissected frog in a sealed bottle, and a pile of shiny, black-covered note-books. His legs were fine and strong, he told her that he had been a warrior in ancient times, to which she snorted in disgust. Horrible memories of things seen beneath the microscope of the baser forms of life crawled across her mind and set her shuddering with imagined irritations. But his words were borne away by the driving wind. I shall lose my fees and the laced coat. " "Well, well, since you desire it, I'll say no more," returned Wood.