The ends of this great room, as we entered, were wrapped in shadow, but in the centre was a bright glare from a brazier full of coals, over which a brass pipkin was suspended.
Beside the fire a long wooden table was plentifully covered with curved glass flasks, basins, tubings, and other instruments of which I knew neither the name nor the purpose.

A long row of bottles containing various coloured liquids and powders were arranged along a shelf, whilst above it another shelf bore a goodly array of brown volumes.

For the rest there was a second rough-hewn table, a pair of cupboards, three or four wooden settles, and several large screens pinned to the walls and covered all over with figures and symbols, of which I could make nothing.

The vile smell which had greeted us outside was very much worse within the chamber, and arose apparently from the fumes of the boiling, bubbling contents of the brazen pot.
'Ye behold in me,' said our host, bowing courteously to us, 'the last of an ancient family.

I am Sir Jacob Clancing of Snellaby Hall.' 'Smellaby it should be, methinks,' whispered Reuben, in a voice which fortunately did not reach the ears of the old knight.
'I pray that ye be seated,' he continued, 'and that ye lay aside your plates and headpieces, and remove your boots.