lay before you that is a vastly more
interesting matter. It will be something of an adventure to us all."

"Adventure?" O'Mally ran his tongue across his lips like a thirsty man
coming unexpectedly upon a pool of spring-water.

"Adventure? Let us be gone upon it at once," said Worth, anxious to
return into the graces of this singular woman.

"Any place, so long as there's board and keep in it," Smith declared.

Kitty tried to read La Signorina's eyes. What madness this time?

La Signorina again raised her veil. From her girdle-bag she took a
letter, which she unfolded across her knees. "As I have said, I have
friends in Italy, and some of them are rich and powerful. This letter is
from a friend I have always known. Has any one of you ever heard of the
Principessa di Monte Bianca?"

A thoughtful frown passed from one face to another; and each strove to
recall this name among half-forgotten memories. Finally, one by one they
shook their heads. The name had a familiar echo, but that was all. It
was quite possible that they had seen it in the Paris edition of the
_Herald_.

"Let me read this letter to you. She addresses me as Capricciosa, my
stage name."

Her audience leaned forward attentively.

My Dear--I was very glad indeed to hear from you, and I shall be
only too happy to offer you the temporary assistance you desire.
You will recollect that I possess a villa just outside of Florence,
a mile or so north of Fiesole. I have never been inside of it but
once, in my childhood. The villa is furnished and kept in repair by
an ancient gardener and his wife. You and your friends are welcome
to occupy the Villa Ariadne as long as you please. You will find
one annoyance: in the ravine below the Eighth Corps has a shooting
range, and it is noisy when the wind is in the east. Of course you
will find all the chests, bureaus, sideboards and closets under
seal; for I have not been there since the death of my father. None
of the seals may be removed till I occupy the villa legally.
However, the gardener and his wife have silver and linen and china,
and with these you will be able to get along nicely. The fruits and
roses and garden truck will be wholly yours, and if you are
vegetarians you can live without expense for weeks. Take the villa,
then, and enjoy yourselves. It is rather out of the beaten track,
though at times it is invaded b