It was to the bishop that she now addressed herself.
'Holy father, I am your suppliant.

Not even for a day will I remain under this roof, even if--which is doubtful--I should be suffered to do so.

I put myself under the protection of your Holiness, until such time as I can set forth on my sad journey to Rome.

At Surrentum I must abide until the corpse of my brother can be conveyed to its final resting place--as I promised him.' Much agitated, the prelate made answer that a fitting residence should be prepared for her before noon, and the presbyter Andreas added that he would instantly betake himself to the city on that business.
Petronilla thanked him with the loftiest humility.

For any lack of respect, or for common courtesy, to which they might be exposed ere they quitted the villa, she besought their Sanctities not to hold her responsible, she herself being now an unwilling intruder at this hearth, and liable at any moment to insult.