The interior of the Greek mansion, they found, was fully up to the standard set by the exterior. It was only two stories in height, but the rooms were large and imposing. A broad stairway led up to the gallery, at the four corners of which were blue and gold Ionic columns. The ornate railing was in the same scheme of color, while suspended from it were gorgeous draperies imported from China and Japan.
When George led the way into the atrium, a room of marble and mosaic, with a beautiful little fountain in the center, the boys opened their eyes with wonder. At both ends were statues and marble benches.
“Like it?” asked George.
“Well, I should say so,” answered Jack, with admiration in his tones. “Never saw anything to beat it.”
“Nor I,” added Fred Winter.
“Some of your friends, George?”
Turning, the boys saw a tall, well-built man with a military carriage surveying them with a questioning look. His hair and moustache were iron-gray. His aquiline nose and keen gray eyes would ordinarily have given him an air of sternness, but, at the present moment, this was greatly increased by his very evident look of annoyance.
“Never saw them until to-day, uncle,” replied George, cheerfully.
Colonel Ellison’s frown deepened.
“Never saw them until to-day!” he echoed, somewhat to the embarrassment of the house-boat boys. “How is that?”