but we went roundabout, through
unexpected short cuts, and then across the empty stretches of the
sand-lots toward where the long gray facade of the convent stretched;
and close beside it the high fence with the latticed top which
surrounded the Spanish Woman's house. Above the fence the roof and the
small windows beneath the eaves were just visible. As we drew near my
heart beat quickly, and still I felt that, as when I was a child, I was
only going to pass it. But we turned, and I realized I was actually
stopping at the gate.

This was so high it was merely a door cut in the fence, allowing no
glimpse of what was within, and instead of immediately opening it, Mr.
Dingley rapped upon it with the iron knocker, whose lion head had been
wont to snarl at me years ago. I heard a sharp clicking as of
something being unlocked, and the gate opened. But after we were
inside I got an uncanny shock, for excepting ourselves there was not a
soul to be seen.

"Clever contrivance that," said Mr. Dingley, glancing up. And then I
noticed a wire which ran from the fastening of the gate to its top, and
from there in a straight line to the house. But even this discovery
didn't remove my uneasy sense of being in an enchantment.

Around us were weedy grass plots, bushes smothering in vines, broken
flower urns, a dry and weather-stained fountain; and to and fro across
the neglect of it all moved the shadows of the restless eucalyptus
trees. A brick path, very mossy and giving uncertain foothold, ran
straight to the front of the house--a blank-looking facade, all the
shutters closed over the windows, and a deeply hooded door.

Mr. Dingley gave the bell handle a vigorous pull, but not the faintest
tinkle reechoed through the interior. We waited. There wasn't a sound
of any one inside approaching through the hall. I was fully prepared
to be admitted by the same unseen agency that had moved the gate. But
when, quite suddenly, the door opened, I was aware of a figure, very
dimly seen in the gloom of the hall. We were allowed to enter without
a question, without a word; and as quickly the door closed upon us.
After the broad sunlight the hall seemed so dark, I could but sense
high ceilings and hanging draperies above my head, and feel beneath my
feet the soft depth of a carpet. All that my eyes could distinguish
was the little white glimmer of Mr. Dingley's card as he handed it to
the person who had opened the door.

We were le