I found out from Madame Bernard where you were going and I sent for you before the hour.

You are as safe here as if you were praying in your chapel; in a few minutes the carriage will take you back, you will say you got into the wrong one by mistake, which is quite true, and the right one will take you where you are to go; you will be scarcely half-an-hour late and no one will ever know anything more about it.' Sister Giovanna had listened patiently to his explanation, and believed what he said.

He had always been impulsive to rashness, but now that her first surprise had subsided she was less afraid.

He had evidently yielded to a strong temptation with the idea of forcing her to listen to him, and in reality, if she had understood herself, she was not able to believe that he would hurt her or bring any disgrace upon her.
'If you are in earnest,' she said, when he had finished, 'then let me go at once.' 'Presently,' he answered.

'This afternoon you made me promise to hear quietly what you had to say, and I did my best.