"Art thou a ghostly visitor come back amongst us, from the Realm of the
Unseen?"
The figure made no sign. "Art thou then flesh and blood, and mortal as
ourselves?"
Slowly the figure bowed its head.
"Now I adjure thee by our blessed Lady to tell me truly. Art thou, in
very deed a holy nun, a member of our sacred Order? Answer me, yea or
nay?"
The figure shook its head.
The Prioress advanced a step, passed the key into her left hand and,
slipping her right beneath her scapulary, took firm grip of the dagger
at her girdle.
"Then, masquerader in our sacred dress," she said, "to me you have to
answer for double sacrilege: the wearing of these robes, and your
presence here, unbidden. I warn you that your life has never hung by
frailer thread than now it hangs. Your only hope of safety lies in
doing as I bid you. Pass before me along this passage until you reach
a chamber on the right, of which the door stands open. Enter, and
place yourself against the wall on the side farthest from the door.
There I will speak with you."
With the shuffling steps of a woman, and the bent shoulders of the very
old, the figure moved slowly forward, stepped upon the front of the
white robe, stumbled, but recovered.
The Prioress watching, laughed--a short scornful laugh, holding more of
anger than of merriment.
With an abrupt movement the figure straightened, stood at its full
height, and strode forward. The Prioress marked the squaring of the
broad shoulders; the height, greater than her own, though she was more
than common tall; the stride, beneath the folds of the long robe; and
she knit her level brows, for well she knew with whom she had to deal.
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