And over everything was a curious absence of deliberate ornament, a bare grace of form and colour, that he found very pleasing to the eye.

There were several very comfortable chairs, a light table on silent runners carrying several bottles of fluids and glasses, and two plates bearing a clear substance like jelly.

Then he noticed there were no books, no newspapers, no writing materials.

"The world has changed indeed," he said.
He observed one entire side of the outer room was set with rows of peculiar double cylinders inscribed with green lettering on white that harmonized with the decorative scheme of the room, and in the centre of this side projected a little apparatus about a yard square and having a white smooth face to the room.

A chair faced this.