I beg of you to move your foot." "But then you would shut the door." She could not deny it.
"I mean no harm," I protested.
"'The guile of the wicked is infinite,'" remarked the little nun.
"I want to see the Mother Superior," said I."Will you take my name to her ?" I heard another step in the passage.

The door was flung wide open, and a stout and stately old lady faced me, a frown on her brow.
"Madame," said I, "until you hear my errand you will think me an ill-mannered fellow." "What is your business, sir ?" "It is for your ear alone, madame." "You can't come in here," said she decisively.
For a moment I was at a loss.

Then the simplest solution in the world occurred to me.
"But you can come out, madame," I suggested.
She looked at me doubtfully for a minute.

Then she stepped out, shutting the door carefully behind her.

I caught a glimpse of the little nun's face, and thought there was a look of disappointment on it.