The guards opened the double doors, and the bald servant led
Story and his companions through the narrow vestibulum and across the open-air atrium, passing a bubbling fountain.
Elizabeth and
Lucius had been here before, but they had gone no further in their previous visit. The slave led them into the tablinum, just off of the atrium at the far end, into
Scaevola's study. Shelves were lined with papyrus scrolls, a few of which were also on a mahogany writing desk, upon which the servant lit a candle with a flint. There were also a few busts and statuettes on the shelves and on small display tables. Some of them continued the chimera theme of humanoids with animal heads, and others were busts of Pharaohs long dead. A variety of wax masks that bore some resemblance to
Scaevola also hung on the walls. A few luxurious chairs were present.

"Be seated and remain here," said the servant. "I shall summon the Senator." He left the room the way he had come, vanishing into the darkness.