Women often make the mistake of thinking that when we men begin to stumble away from the straight chalk-line of that logic in which we are supposed by them to take such pride, our purpose is wavering, whereas the opposite is often the case.

Men capable of sudden, direct, and strong action are often poor talkers, particularly when they are just going to spring or strike.

A little hesitation is more often the sign of a near outbreak than of any inward weakening.
But Sister Giovanna was deceived.
'I shall be forced to listen, if you insist,' she said, moving half a step forward from the curtain, 'but how can I trust you, while I am your prisoner ?' 'You can trust me, if you will be generous,' Giovanni answered.
'I do not know what you mean by the word,' replied the nun cautiously.
'If I am not generous, as you mean it, what then ?' Severi stopped in his walk; his face began to darken again, and his voice was rough and hard.
'What then?
Why then, remember what I am and where you are!' Sister Giovanna drew back again.
'I would rather trust in God than trust you when you speak in that tone,' she said.
He had used the very words she had spoken in the cloister when he had tried to take her by the arm, but they had a very different meaning now; his dangerous temper was rising again and he was threatening her.
Yet her answer produced an effect she was far from expecting.

He turned to the writing-table near him, opened one of the drawers and took out an army revolver.

Sister Giovanna watched him.