  We present a quantum Monte Carlo study of the structure and energetics of
silver doped helium clusters AgHe$_n$ for $n$ up to 100. Our simulations show
the first solvation shell of the Ag atom to be composed by roughly 20 He atoms,
and to possess a structured angular distribution. Moreover, the electronic
$^2$P$_{1/2}\leftarrow ^2$S$_{1/2}$ and $^2$P$_{3/2}\leftarrow ^2$S$_{1/2}$
electronic transitions of the embedded silver impurity have been studied as a
function of the number ofhelium atoms. The computed spectra show a redshift for
$n\leq 15$ and an increasing blueshift for larger clusters, a feature
attributed to the effect of the second solvation shell of He atoms. For the
largest cluster, the computed excitation spectrum is found in excellent
agreement with the ones recorded in superfluid He clusters and bulk. No
signature of the direct formation of proposed AgHe$_2$ exciplex is present in
the computed spectra of AgHe$_{100}$.
