Upon entering the corridor on the second floor of the Home Office, the first thing that comes into view is the office of Lord John Russell, the Home Secretary.
The door is wider than the others, retaining traces of carvings from its old manor days on the lintel. Although layers of paint have been applied, the ancient patterns persistently reveal themselves. The area in front of the Home Secretary's office is perpetually spotless, as servants and low-ranking clerks instinctively avoid this place; unless necessary, no one wishes to visit the highest-ranking official in the Home Office.
Beyond the Home Secretary's office, the corridor becomes noticeably quieter.
The carpet changes to a deeper color with denser patterns; this area houses the offices of senior civil servants and legal advisors in the Home Office, perhaps to facilitate communication among them, or maybe because their rank is not high enough. Whatever the reason, the distance between doors in this area is shorter.
