The house was large on the
ground, with wings and various additions built out as if at random; on
each side and behind were rough outside chimneys clamped to the wall;
in the roof over the central part dormer-windows showed a low second
storey; and here and there at intervals were outside doors, in some
cases opening out into space, since the high steps which once led up
to them had fallen down, and remained as they fell, heaps of stones on
the ground below. Within were suites of rooms, large and small,
showing traces of workmanship elaborate for such a remote locality;
the ceilings, patched with rough mortar, had been originally decorated
with moulding, the doors were ornamented with scroll-work, and the two
large apartments on each side of the entrance-hall possessed
chimney-pieces and central hooks for chandeliers. Beyond and behind
stretched out the wings; coming to what appeared to be the end of the
house on west, there unexpectedly began a new series of rooms turning
to the north, each with its outside door; looking for a corresponding
labyrinth on the eastern side, there was nothing but a blank wall. The
blind stairway went up in a kind of dark well, and once up it was a
difficult matter to get down without a plunge from top to bottom,
since the undefended opening was just where no one would expect to
find it.
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