All
round the walls were hung curtains of black and yellow, decorated with
dragons in gold, and above, suspended by cords at the four corners, was a
rug or banner of white ornamented with a great tortoise--the sacred
animal of Chinese religion--with gold eyes and claws. All round the side
of the room were set coloured lights, shaded and dim. Coming from the
bright outer sunlight, the place in its shadowed state seemed
half-sepulchral.
When the Coroner, Orlando, the Young Doctor and the others had accustomed
themselves to the dimness, they saw at the end of the chamber--for such,
in effect, it had been made with its trappings and decorations--a figure
seated upon the ground. Near by the figure, on either hand, there were
standards bearing banners, and the staffs holding the banners were, bound
in white silk, with long streamers hanging down. Half enclosing the
banners were fanlike screens. Along the walls also were flags with
toothed edges. The figure was seated on a mat of fine bamboo in the midst
of this strange scheme of decoration. Behind him, and drawn straight
across the chamber, was a sheet of fine white cloth, embroidered with
strange designs. He was clothed in a rich jacket of blue, and a pair of
sandal-like shoes was placed neatly in front of the bamboo mat. On either
side and in front of all, raised a little from the ground, were bowls or
calabashes containing fruit, grain and dried and pickled meats.
Pages:
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171