fully kept than that of the Villa Camellia, and contained choicer
and rarer flowers. There were glorious tanks of water-lilies, and there
were pergolas of sweet-scented creepers, and the statues and arbors
utterly eclipsed even those of a public park. It was evidently the
Count's favorite hobby, and he had spared no expense in laying out the
grounds. Rather fearful of being caught by some chance gardener the
girls walked on, holding themselves in readiness to dive away if
necessary and make a quick escape.

"Do you feel like Adam and Eve in Paradise?" queried Delia tremulously.

"Not a bit, because they never got back after they were once turned out.
I wish we could annex this place and add it on to the Villa Camellia.
The Count can't want it while he's away."

The girls wandered about in breathless enjoyment. Stolen waters are
sweet, and somebody else's garden seemed much more attractive than their
own. They did not dare to venture too near the Villa, and kept carefully
away from anything that looked like a grotto or a summer-house, in which
they might find a gardener seated, enjoying his cigarette. At the end of
a rose pergola, however, Peachy made a discovery. It was neither more
nor less than a flight of steps leading down to a door in the ground.
She stood gazing at it with curiosity.

"Now I wonder what that is?" she exclaimed.

[Illustration: "'I WONDER WHAT THAT IS?' SHE EXCLAIMED"

--_Page 183_]

"Looks like the entrance to a mausoleum," shuddered Delia.

"Or the strong room where the Count keeps his money," laughed Irene.

"I don't believe it's either. I shouldn't be surprised if it's the
passage leading to the sea. I know there is one in the Sutri garden, to
get down to the bathing cove. How priceless if we've happened to light
upon it. Is that door open? I'm going to see."

Peachy ran down the steps, turned the handle, and somewhat to her own
astonishment found the door unlocked. She was peering into a long dark
tunnel, at the end of which could be distinguished a faint glint of
light. This was indeed an adventure. It seemed a deed of daring to
explore such hidden depths, but she was out to take risks that
afternoon.

"Come along!" she commanded, bracing up the spirits of her more timorous
comrades.

Holding one another's arms particularly tightly, the three entered the
doorway and began to walk along the underground passage. It sloped
sharply downwards, and was rough under foot, but the farthe