Jeanne, after exchanging a few words with the Abbot, asked him if any one had recently pronounced the solemn vows or perhaps taken the habit.

The Abbot replied that he had been at Santa Scolastica only a few days, and was not, at that moment, in a position to answer her question; but he did not believe any one had made the solemn profession or assumed the habit of a novice at Santa Scolastica for at least a year.

Jeanne was radiant with joy.

Now she understood; she had been a fool to believe it possible, even for a single moment, that in twelve hours Piero the peasant had become Piero the monk.

She longed to return at once to the garden at Santa Scolastica; but how could she manage it?
what pretext could she invent?
She pressed forward, anxious to be done with the Sacro Speco as soon as possible.