The Doings of Raffles Haw

The chamber in which the bewildered Robert now found himself was more / luxurious, if less rich, than any which he had yet seen. Low settees of / claret-coloured plush were scattered in orderly disorder over a mossy / Eastern carpet. Deep lounges, reclining sofas, American rocking-chairs, / all were to be had for the choosing. One end of the room was walled by / glass, and appeared to open upon a luxuriant hot-house. At the further / end a double line of gilt rails supported a profusion of the most recent / magazines and periodicals. A rack at each side of the inlaid fireplace / sustained a long line of the pipes of all places and nations -- English / cherrywoods, French briars, German china-bowls, carved meerschaums, / scented cedar and myall-wood, with Eastern narghiles, Turkish / chibooques, and two great golden-topped hookahs. To right and left / were a series of small lockers, extending in a treble row for the whole / length of the room, with the names of the various brands of tobacco / scrolled in ivory work across them. Above were other larger tiers of / polished oak, which held cigars and cigarettes.

"Try that Damascus settee," said the master of the house, as he threw / himself into a rocking-chair. "It is from the Sultan's upholsterer. / The Turks have a very good notion of comfort. I am a confirmed smoker / myself, Mr. McIntyre, so I have been able, perhaps, to check my / architect here more than in most of the other departments. Of pictures, / for example, I know nothing, as you would very speedily find out. On / a tobacco, I might, perhaps, offer an opinion. Now these" -- he drew out / some long, beautifully-rolled, mellow-coloured cigars -- "these are really / something a little out of the common. Do try one."