Then I shall be awaiting you in Heaven." Benedetto knelt down.

The Pope's voice sounded very solemn in the darkness: "_Benedico te in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti_." The Pontiff rapidly ascended the five steps, and disappeared.
Benedetto remained upon his knees, wrapt in that benediction which, it seemed to him, had come from Christ Himself.

On hearing steps in the gallery he rose.

A few moments later he was returning to the bronze portal, accompanied by Don Teofilo.
III.
The room on the fourth floor was hardly decent.

An iron bedstead, a pedestal, a writing-desk, with a few torn and dilapidated books, a deal chest of drawers, an iron washstand, and a few straw-bottomed chairs, were all it contained.