I looked for the servant in attendance--there was none.

I paused an instant; the door remained invitingly open, and through it I caught a glimpse of flowers.

Resolving to be bold, and to hesitate no longer, I entered.

As I crossed the threshold, the door closed behind me instantly with its previous swiftness and silence.
I found myself in a spacious hall, light and lofty, surrounded with fluted pillars of white marble.

In the centre a fountain bubbled melodiously, and tossed up every now and then a high jet of sparkling spray, while round its basin grew the rarest ferns and exotics, which emitted a subtle and delicate perfume.