oor upon the corridor and listened. Not a sound
broke the intense stillness, and all was dark. The hanging lamp had been
extinguished and the nuns had all returned from the midnight service to
their cells. No one would be stirring now until four o'clock, and half
an hour was all that Unorna needed.

She took Beatrice's hand. The dark woman rose with half-closed eyes and
set features. Unorna led her out into the dark passage.

"It is light here," Unorna said. "You can see your way. But I am blind.
Take my hand--so--and now lead me to the church by the nun's staircase.
Make no noise."

"I do not know the staircase," said the sleeper in drowsy tones.

Unorna knew the way well enough, but not wishing to take a light with
her, she was obliged to trust herself to her victim, for whose vision
there was no such thing as darkness unless Unorna willed it.

"Go as you went to-day, to the room where the balcony is, but do not
enter it. The staircase is on the right of the door, and leads into the
choir. Go!"

Without hesitation Beatrice led her out into the impenetrable gloom,
with swift, noiseless footsteps in the direction commanded, never
wavering nor hesitating whether to turn to the right or the left, but
walking as confidently as though in broad daylight. Unorna counted the
turnings and knew that there was no mistake. Beatrice was leading her
unerringly towards the staircase. They reached it, and began to descend
the winding steps. Unorna, holding her leader by one hand, steadied
herself with the other against the smooth, curved wall, fearing at
every moment lest she should stumble and fall in the total darkness.
But Beatrice never faltered. To her the way was as bright as though the
noonday sun had shone before her.

The stairs ended abruptly against a door. Beatrice stood still. She had
received no further commands and the impulse ceased.

"Draw back the bolt and take me into the church," said Unorna, who could
see nothing, but who knew that the nuns fastened the door behind them
when they returned into the convent. Beatrice obeyed without hesitation
and led her forward.

They came out between the high carved seats of the choir, behind the
high altar. The church was not quite as dark as the staircase and
passages had been, and Unorna stood still for a moment. In some of the
chapels hanging lamps of silver were lighted, and their tiny flames
spread a faint radiance upwards and sideways, though not downwards,
suffi