She has told me--by letter, of course, for the inmates are under a vow of perpetual silence--that she has heard of Marcolina's erudition, and would like to meet her face to face." "I hope, Marcolina," said Lorenzi, speaking to her for the first time, "that you will not attempt to imitate the noble abbess in other respects as well as learning." "Why should I ?" rejoined Marcolina serenely.

"We can maintain our freedom without vows.

Better without than with, for a vow is a form of coercion." Casanova was sitting next to her.

He did not dare to let his foot touch hers lightly, or to press his knee against hers.

He was certain that should she for the third time look at him with that expression of horror and loathing, he would be driven to some act of folly.