But the time seemed endless.
The distant clocks chimed the half hour, three-quarters, past midnight.
Still she waited.

At the stroke of one she rose from her seat, and standing beside Beatrice laid her hand upon the dark brow.
A few questions, a few answers followed.

She must assure herself that her victim was in the right state to execute minutely all her commands.
Then she opened the door upon the corridor and listened.

Not a sound broke the intense stillness, and all was dark.

The hanging lamp had been extinguished and the nuns had all returned from the midnight service to their cells.