No one would be stirring now until four o'clock, and half an hour was all that Unorna needed.
She took Beatrice's hand.

The dark woman rose with half-closed eyes and set features.

Unorna led her out into the dark passage.
"It is light here," Unorna said.

"You can see your way.

But I am blind.
Take my hand--so--and now lead me to the church by the nun's staircase.
Make no noise." "I do not know the staircase," said the sleeper in drowsy tones.
Unorna knew the way well enough, but not wishing to take a light with her, she was obliged to trust herself to her victim, for whose vision there was no such thing as darkness unless Unorna willed it.
"Go as you went to-day, to the room where the balcony is, but do not enter it.