The shadowy form rose higher and higher in the gloom, and stood upon the altar itself.
"Now do as I command you.

Open wide the door of the tabernacle." Unorna watched the black form intently.

It seemed to stretch out its hand as though searching for something, and then the arm fell again to the side.
"Do as I command you," Unorna repeated with the angry and dominant intonation that always came into her voice when she was not obeyed.
Again the hand was raised for a moment, groped in the darkness and sank down into the shadow.
"Beatrice Varanger, you must do my will.

I order you to open the door of the tabernacle, to take out what is within and to throw it to the ground!" Her voice rang clearly through the church.

"And may the crime be on your soul for ever and ever," she added in a low voice.
A third time the figure moved.