avoiding the larger rooms, which were dark and made fast for the night, monsieur the marquis, with his flambeau-bearer going on before, went up the staircase to a door in a corridor. this thrown open, admitted him to his own private apartment of three rooms: his bed-chamber and two others. high vaulted rooms with cool uncarpeted floors, great dogs upon the hearths for the burning of wood in winter time, and all luxuries befitting the state of a marquis in a luxurious age and country.