As he spoke the iron advertisement curtain rose, disclosing the curtain proper underneath.

This latter curtain was quite an affair.

Upon it was painted a wonderful picture.

A flight of marble steps led down to a stream of water; two white swans, their necks arched like the capital letter S, floated about.

At the head of the marble steps were two vases filled with red and yellow flowers, while at the foot was moored a gondola.
This gondola was full of red velvet rugs that hung over the side and trailed in the water.