The effect of this was magical.
A face appeared at the window, which was protected by huge iron bars.
“Who’s there, and what’s your business?” said a voice.
“A lady and a lad on the fly,” returned Miss Stanbridge.
“It’s the voice of the duchess,” said the voice above.
“Yes, it’s the duchess,” answered Laura. “All right.”
The door was opened, and they went down some steps into a large room.
Alf’s eyes wandered over this with all the curiosity of a lad who finds himself in a scene which is new and strange to him.
His companion, however, seemed perfectly at her ease, and the most noticeable features of the apartment were quite familiar to her.
There were two long tables from fireplace to fireplace, running parallel with each other.