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a ray of light emanating from a corner of the niche where I had left the candle and pendant. I approached and reached out for the items. A solid current of air blew through a hole large enough to fit three fingers. I relit my candle and examined the hole at the back of the niche.
    Someone had removed four granite blocks in the wall. In their place were thick, loosely placed, wooden tiles. I pulled them off, one at a time. A pile of brushwood lay behind them. As I cleared it away, I discovered a tunnel large enough for a person to pass through. My heart beat with excitement as I clambered up. At the other end, I could see a glimpse of blue sky. I crouched down and crawled through it.
    Within moments, I stood outside the vault, my bare feet upon soft, green grass and my body beneath an emerging blue sky. I fell to my knees and wept with joy. I was free! Free to resume my life, my love, my marriage to my beloved Dario; free to forget, if I could, the horror of my live burial.
    Thankful, I prayed, heaping numerous blessings upon Cesare Negri. I owed the famous lout my gratitude, not only for the fortune he had left, but also for my freedom. He or his followers must have dug the secret passage into the Mancini vault for their own nefarious purposes. The authorities had been seeking him for quite some time and there was a price on his head. The villain was in hiding somewhere. Even if I were to discover his whereabouts, those who sought him would receive no aid from me. There was no reason for me to betray him. He had been my saviour. Besides, no one could ever accuse me of stealing stolen property.
    Bathed by the morning light, I rejoiced in my deliverance. Happiness the like s of which I had never known radiated through my body. When Dario saw me once more, he would love me more fondly than before, for although our separation had been brief, but terrible, the knowledge that I was alive would endear us to each other even more.
    And my little Chiara! I could not wait to swing her again beneath the orange boughs and listen to her delightful squeals. I would clasp Beatrice ’s hand and the joy of our friendship would flood both our hearts. Tonight I would lay my head upon Dario’s chest and listen to his heartbeat after our lovemaking. My head spun with dazzling, euphoric visions.
    The sun had fully risen now. Long golden sunbeams stroked the treetops. I felt as if I would die from all my euphoria. I would share it all with Dario tonight when the moon rose and the nightingales returned to sing their love-songs. Full of such joyful fantasies, I inhaled the pure morning air for several more moments, and then went back down into the vault.
     

Chapter Five
     

     
    Aided by the light of my candle and the meagre sunlight that filtered into the crypt, I repacked the treasure. I kept two leather bags for myself - one full of jewels and the other of coins. To my relief, the casket had suffered little damage when I had forced it open. I secured the lid and despite my weakness, I managed to push it to the darkest corner of the vault. Fighting for breath, I disguised it beneath three heavy stones then wiped the sweat from my brow and paused to catch my breath.
    Next, I removed the rope belt at my waist and secured my treasure to it. Then I raised the hem of my filthy gown to below my breasts and held it in place with my elbow. I knotted the belt around my waist before lowering my gown over it to disguise the booty.
    Straightening my gown, I ran my hand over my hair. I could tell it was in disarray too. I must look a fright. I did not want anyone to see me in so dirty and disheveled a condition. With all the money I carried, I had more than enough to purchase a gown , but where could I fine one? Unfortunately, I did not know. All my life, I had ordered gowns from exclusive dressmakers who came to my villa with bolts of material to choose from and later for fittings.
    Must I wait until nightfall before I could escape this tomb? No! I could