Noemi stopped, curiously regarding the ancient paintings.

Jeanne followed the Benedictine, looking neither to right nor left, distracted, tormented by a doubt.

What if the Abbot had been mistaken, if the beggar had told the truth?
She recalled in fancy the happy meeting in the courtyard at Praglia, the intense pallor of his face, the "Thank you!" which had made her tremble with joy.

A shiver ran through her blood, and, as though with a sudden pull at the reins of her imagination, she turned to Noemi: "Come!" she said.
She followed the monk, hearing nothing that he said, observing nothing that he pointed out.

Noemi found it difficult to hide her own uneasiness, for she had a presentiment of evil on their return.