The Mother Superior and Monsignor Saracinesca had been sitting by the table, talking, but both had risen and come forward as soon as the pair appeared outside the glass door.

It all passed off very satisfactorily, and the Mother Superior gave a little sigh of relief when the churchman and the soldier went away together, leaving her and Sister Giovanna standing in the hall.

She felt that Monsignor Saracinesca had been right, after all, in approving the meeting, and that she had been mistaken in thinking that it must endanger the nun's peace.
She said nothing, but she was quietly pleased, and a rare, sweet smile softened her marble features.

She asked no questions about what had passed, being quite sure that all was well, and that if there had ever been anything to fear, it was gone.
The prelate and Giovanni walked along the quiet street in silence for some distance; then Severi stopped suddenly, as many Italians do when they are going to say something important.
'You will help me, I am sure,' he said, speaking impetuously from the first.

'Though I never knew you well in old times, I always felt that you were friendly.