The road looked almost more lonely to-day than when I had been there before. There was not the slightest sign of life or movement as far as we could see beyond us. "I could believe that no one had passed this way for weeks," I said to Moore. "Did you ever see such a lonely place?" "That is probably why they have made the door on this side," he replied. "I dare say they come out at night, and walk up and down like ghosts!" "I'm sure they don't," I answered, "and _they_ didn't make the door. It's as old as the wall itself, as you can see by the ivy. Now don't talk any more; I want to give all my attention to looking for it." And in a minute or two I exclaimed triumphantly; "Here it is, and--yes-- still unlocked!" It must have called for some self-restraint on Moore's part not to shout "hurrah!" but we were well on our guard. We pushed the door open and entered cautiously, drawing it to behind us. We were well sheltered, as I have said, by the bushes skirting the wall. I crept along a few yards in the same direction as I had done the last time, my brother closely following me. Then we stopped, and I whispered to him that I thought it would be safe to peep out a little. He did so, keeping still well in the shade of the heavy clumps of evergreens farther inside the grounds. Then, after reconnoitring, he beckoned to me to come on. "There isn't a creature about," he said, "and we can't be seen from the windows at this side. You needn't be so dreadfully frightened, Reggie." "Oh, but it was just like this the last time," I whispered, "when all of a sudden we heard the cripple brother coming. No, Moore, I _won't_ go farther in!" "Well, stay where you are for a bit," he replied. "I want to get a thoroughly good idea of the lie of the place;" and he certainly seemed to be doing his best to obtain this, his curly head bobbing backwards and forwards in all directions, while I stood on guard, tremulously listening for the slightest sound, extremely frightened, extremely interested, and intensely excited. When Moore was satisfied that there was no more to be done from his present post of observation, we crept back again to the neighbourhood of the door. I flattered myself that he was now ready to go home, but I was mistaken. "Now," he said, "I am going to explore for myself. You and Isabel didn't try the other side--to the left, I mean." "O Moore," I exclaimed, "that is towards the front of the house!" "I know that," he answered; "but that's just why I want to go that way. It's perfectly safe if we keep pretty near the wall;" and my curiosity surmounting my fears, I in my turn followed him for some little way. Then an unexpected thing happened! Suddenly, on our right hand, the border of bushes opened out into a sort of trellised passage, between trees, what in France is called a _tonnelle_, and at its end we perceived a glazed door, evidently leading into a conservatory. I started back in affright, exclaiming, though in a whisper--