g
they were! How intoxicating, a moment!... The world of outside things
ceased to exist for them.... They were enwrapt in a glowing world of
their own!... Fandor's hand slid to Elizabeth's shoulder; he leaned
towards the unresisting girl, and with closed eyes, their lips met in a
long kiss--a kiss all ecstasy....

It was a moment's mutual madness!... The instant past, both knew it.
Torn from this momentary dream of bliss, they gazed at each other,
embarrassed, greatly moved: for that very reason they wished to part.
Ah, this was not the moment to speak of love, to dream of happiness and
mutual joy! Dark, dreadful mysteries enclosed them: it was a sinister
net they struggled in: as yet they could see no clear way out!... They
had no right to be themselves until the mysteries were cleared away....
They could not belong to each other now!

* * * * *

Fandor, when taking leave of Elizabeth, expressed a wish that she should
not accompany him to the convent; and she, still shaken with emotion,
had not insisted on doing so.

As he was on the point of stepping into the street, a sister came up to
him.

"You are Monsieur Jerome Fandor?"

"Yes, sister."

"Our Mother Superior wishes to speak to you."

Our journalist bowed acquiescence.

Some minutes later, the Mother Superior joined him in the large parlour.

"Monsieur," she began, "I must apologise for having sent for you, but I
wished to have a necessary talk with you."

Fandor interrupted the saintly nun.

"And I must apologise, reverend Mother, for not having come to pay my
respects to you before leaving. Had I not been much troubled, I should
never have dreamt of leaving without thanking you for the help you have
been good enough to give me."

The nun looked at him questioningly. Fandor continued:

"In agreeing to receive Mademoiselle Elizabeth Dollon as a boarder, you
have done a deed of true charity: this poor girl is so unhappy, so
tried, so unfortunate, that I really do not know where she could have
found a better refuge than in this convent under your sheltering
care.... I ..."

But the nun would not allow Fandor to continue.

"It is precisely about Mademoiselle Dollon that I wish to speak to
you.... Of course, I should be glad to help and comfort one suffering
from a real misfortune; but I must confess, that when Mademoiselle
Dollon presented herself here as a boarder, I was ignorant of the exact
nature of the scandal