She had observed it from the vantage-ground of the roof, and had decided that, by climbing on to a low shed, it would be quite possible to scale the wall which divided the grounds of the Villa Camellia from those of its next door neighbor.

The girls had always been extremely curious about the Villa Sutri.

From their dormitory windows they could catch a glimpse of its green shutters and creeper-covered walls, set away among a thick grove of trees, and they had decided that its garden looked immensely superior to their own.

The estate belonged to Count Sutri, who often spent part of the winter and spring among his orange groves and his flowery pergolas.

He was supposed to have a reputation for gardening, and rumors of his wonderful exotics had circulated round the school.