Returning to the point where he had left the carriage, Drusus led Cornelia up a broad avenue flanked by noble planes and cypresses.

Before them soon stood, or rather stretched, the country house.

It was a large grey stone building, added to, from time to time, by successive owners.

Only in front did it show signs of modern taste and elegance.

Here ran a colonnade of twelve red porphyry pillars, with Corinthian capitals.