That is what I am going to say to the Cardinal Vicar in half-an-hour.

Are you satisfied ?' Sister Giovanna sank sideways upon the chair, with her arm resting on the back of it, and she hid her face in her sleeve.
'Will the Cardinal listen to you ?' asked Giovanni, his voice unsteady with emotion.
'What I recommend is usually done,' answered the prelate, without a shade of arrogance, but with the quiet certainty of a man in power.
'What I ask of you is, to submit at once to the operation that alone can save you, on the strength of my assurance that I am going to do my utmost to obtain what you desire.' 'It is hard to believe!' Giovanni exclaimed, almost to himself.
The nun moved her head silently from side to side without lifting her face from her arm.
'You can believe me,' Monsignor Saracinesca answered.

'I give you my solemn promise before God, and my word of honour before men, that I will do the utmost in my power to succeed.

Do you believe me ?' Giovanni held out his sound hand.

The churchman came nearer and took it.
'Will you risk the operation on that ?' he asked.
The light of a profound gratitude illuminated the young soldier's tired face, and his fingers pressed Monsignor Saracinesca's spasmodically; but his voice was quiet when he spoke.
'Sister Giovanna----' 'Yes ?' The nun looked up suddenly and drew a sharp breath, for her joy was almost agonising.
'Will you kindly go and tell Doctor Pieri that I am ready ?' The nun rose with a spring and was at the door in an instant, and in her heart rang such a chorus of glory and rejoicing as not even the angels have heard since the Morning Stars sang together.
* * * * * Of her, I think the most rigid cannot say that she had not endured to the end, for her vow's sake.