"We cannot but wonder how these mystic gardeners could discern so many meanings in one and the same plant!" "Why, you can see: the symbolists not only considered the analogies and resemblances they discovered between the form, scent, and colour of a flower and the being with whom they compared it; they also studied the Bible, especially the passages wherein a tree or flower was named, and they then ascribed to it such qualities as were mentioned or could be inferred from the text.

They did the same with regard to animals, colours, gems, everything to which they could attribute a meaning.

It is simple enough." "It is complicated enough!" said Durtal.

"And now where was I ?" "In the Lady chapel, planting roses and anemones.

Now add to these a shrub which is the emblem of Mary according to the Anonymous monk of Clairvaux, or of the Incarnation according to the Anonymous writer of Troyes, the walnut, of which the fruit is interpreted in the same sense by the Bishop of Sardis." "And also mignonette," cried Durtal, "for Sister Emmerich speaks of it frequently and with much mystery.