And now let us proceed." He replaced the brass plate and having reinserted the screws, hung up the frame, and proceeded to browse slowly round the room, stopping now and again to inspect the Japanese colour-prints and framed photographs of buildings and other objects of archaeological interest that formed the only attempts at wall-decoration.

To one of the former he drew my attention.
"These things are of some value," he remarked.

"Here is one by Utamaro--that little circle with the mark over it is his signature--and you notice that the paper is becoming spotted in places with mildew.

The fact is worth noting in more than one connection." I accordingly made a mental note and the perambulation continued.
"You observe that Jeffrey used a gas-stove, instead of a coal fire, no doubt to economize work, but perhaps for other reasons.

Presumably he cooked by gas, too; let us see." We wandered into the little cupboard-like kitchen and glanced round.