Her breathing was grown more heavy and more regular, so that in all respects she was as one sleeping healthily.

Soon I hoped that she might awaken, for to seek to bear her thence and to the Palace in my arms would have been a madness.
And now it occurred to me that I should have restoratives at hand against the time of her regaining consciousness.

Inspiration suggested to me the wine that should be stored in the sacristy for altar purposes.
It was unconsecrated, and there could be no sacrilege in using it.
I crept round to the front of the altar.

At the angle a candle-branch protruded, standing no higher than my head.

It held some three or four tapers, and was so placed to enable the priest to read his missal at early Mass on dark winter mornings.