He put her down on a long chair in almost total darkness, but a few moments later the lightning glimmered again and showed her vividly the room in which she lay.

It was a man's room, half-office, half-lounge, extremely bare, and devoid of all ornament with the exception of a few native weapons on the walls.
The kindling of a lamp confirmed this first impression, but the presence of the man himself diverted her attention from her surroundings.

He turned from lighting the lamp to survey her.

She thought he looked somewhat stern.
"What about this knee of yours ?" he said.

"Is it badly damaged ?" "Oh, not badly," she answered.