g at the gateway, a narrow passage led
to the foot of a spiral stair which ran up to the top of the building.
On each story there was a landing-place, into which the rooms opened.
Most of them were in shape like a slice of cake, the largest, used as a
sitting-room, almost semi-circular. At each window there was a deep
recess--the windows themselves in the lower stories being very narrow,
having been made rather as loopholes for musketry than to let in light--
while in the upper story they were square and low, formed as ports for
such cannon as were used in the days of the Commonwealth. Under the
ground-floor some of the inmates suspected that there were vaults, as at
two or three spots a hollow sound on stamping hard was elicited, but as
there was no apparent way down, the captain had not thought it worth
while to break up the pavement to examine them. The dining-room,
kitchen, some offices and bedrooms were in the newer part of the
structure.

Captain Askew's own room was one of those on the upper story, looking
towards the sea. It could not be called his study--for he was not a
reading man, and there were but few books in it,--but it contained
something of everything, arrayed in the most perfect order on shelves
arranged one above another, in cupboards, on tables, and in drawers. It
was a workshop, a museum, a laboratory, a model room, a library, a
dressing-room in one. Here he sat at work for a large portion of each
day, but not often alone, as his wife, or daughter, or Tom Bowlby was
constantly with him. In two or three points the captain had changed
somewhat of late years. He lived less for himself and more for others
than formerly. He took delight in going out among the fishermen and
cottagers in the neighbourhood, with his Bible in hand, or with some
book on religion, and in reading and explaining the Scriptures. He was
also engaged in making the model of a lifeboat, and inventing other
apparatus for saving life.

He had likewise been appointed a magistrate, for the especial object of
assisting the revenue officers in putting down smuggling, which it was
found difficult to do without a strong force of coastguards on shore and
numerous cutters afloat. He most unwillingly undertook the office, but
having taken it, set about doing his duty, as he was accustomed to do
everything, thoroughly. This of course made him enemies among those he
had hitherto looked upon as his friends; still, all but the worst