Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/103



CHAPTER XI.

THE “NAUTILUS.”

got up from his chair. I followed him. A double door at the end of the room was passed, and we entered a chamber of similar size to that we had just left.

It was a library. High ebony book-cases, inlaid with brass, contained a large number of books similarly bound. These followed the curvature of the walls, and terminated at their lower part in large sofas covered with maroon leather, which presented most comfortable resting-places. Light, moveable desks were attached thereto, adapted either for reading or writing. In the centre was a large table, littered with pamphlets, with here and there some old newspapers. The electric light fell upon all these from four swinging globular lamps fastened in the fluting of the ceiling. I gazed admiringly around me at this ingeniously-arranged room, and could scarcely believe my eyes.

“Captain Nemo,” said I to my host, who had stretched himself upon a couch, “this library would do