Joy protested, but Clif was firm.
“Well, it won’t be long until I follow you,” muttered the former as he gave his friend a “boost” to the top of the wall. “You are altogether too fond of getting into danger. I’ll have to look after you, sonny.”
Clif found it an easy matter to drop into the grounds. Once inside he crouched close to the wall and took his bearings.
The night had assumed that depth of blackness usual before the rise of a full moon. The villa grounds presented one smudge of darkness with no alternating patches of light and shade. A cool breeze came from the direction of the river, bringing occasional bursts of noise and commotion from the central portion of the city.
Clif moved away from the wall, stepping carefully and with hands outstretched.
He had not covered a dozen feet when he plumped squarely into a depressed flower bed, and sprawled headlong, creating what seemed to him a prodigious clatter.
He lay quiet for a brief period, then not hearing any sounds, rose to his feet and once more moved in the general direction of the house.
He knew that somewhere in the blackness in front was the tree, but of its exact location he was ignorant.
Suddenly a twinkling light appeared through the gloom.
It gleamed for a moment, then vanished.