she was still laughing at me , for what i had said , when i stopped her 'what is this , a prison '' 'you are in prison , within your body , ' she said , and pushed me through the door i drew myself up and meant to go back out , but the door was shut and being bolted by others i heard the bolt slide into place i looked about me , in anger and confusion a spacious apartment i saw , with a great four-poster bed , fit for the king of england , though it was fitted out in muslin rather than velvet , and in the netting they use here to fend off the mosquitoes , and on either side of it burned candles rugs covered the tiled floor , and indeed the front of the little house was entirely open , its shutters back , but i soon saw why , for to walk even ten steps out was to come to a balustrade , and beyond that , i soon saw upon clumsy investigation , as she held my arm to steady me , was nothing but a great plunge to the beach below and the lapping sea 'i do not care to spend the night here , ' i said to her , 'and if you will not provide me with a coach , i shall walk to port-au-prince ' 'explain this to me , that you do not like pleasure , ' she said gently , tugging at my coat 'surely you are hot in these miserable garments do all dutchmen wear such clothes ? '