Even if he could again penetrate the convent on some pretext at that inaccessible hour for visitors,--twilight,--how could he communicate with her?
He might intercept her on the way, and persuade her to return; but she must be kept from entering the hotel.
He seized his hat and rushed downstairs.

But here another difficulty beset him.

It was easy enough to take the ordinary road to the convent, but would SHE follow that public one in what must be a surreptitious escape?
And might she not have eluded the procession that morning, and even now be concealed somewhere, waiting for the darkness to make her visit.

He concluded to patrol the block next to the hotel, yet near enough to intercept her before she reached it, until the hour came.

The time passed slowly.