She caught him by the throat with a hand of such nervous strength as one would little have suspected from its white and delicate contour.

Her dagger was poised in the air, and the captain, taken thus suddenly, was palsied with amazement and could raise no hand to defend himself from the blow impending.
But the Abbot stepped suddenly to her side and caught her wrist in his thin, transparent hand.
"Forbear," he bade her.

"The man is but a tool." She fell back--dragged back almost by the Abbot--panting with rage and grief; and then she noticed that during the moment that her back had been turned the pall had been swept from the coffin.

The sight of the bare deal box arrested her attention, and for the moment turned aside her anger.

What fresh surprise did they prepare her?
No sooner had she asked herself the question than herself she answered it, and an icy hand seemed to close about her heart.