Accordingly, after telling the father superior that he might expect to hear from me again immediately, I made my bow and hastened out of the sacristy. At the convent gate stood my old friend with the tin snuff-box, waiting to let me out. "Bless you, may son," said the venerable recluse, giving me a farewell pat on the shoulder, "come back soon to your spiritual father who loves you, and amiably favor him with another tiny, tiny pinch of the delectable snuff.".