After which, make thy way out, as best thou canst, and
join me at the hostel, entering by the garden and window, without
letting thyself be seen in the courtyard."
The keen eyes below the bandage, smiled assent.
Stooping, the Knight lifted the cloak, fastened it to his left
shoulder, and drew it around him, holding the greater part of it in
many folds in his right hand. Then he moved back into the shadow of
the pillar.
Above, the monks sang _Nunc Dimittis_.
By and by the voices fell silent.
Vespers were over.
Careful, shuffling feet were coming down the stairs within the wall.
One by one the white figures reappeared.
The Knight stood back, rigid, holding his breath.
As each nun stepped from the archway in the wall, on to the floor of
the crypt, and moved toward the steps leading down to the subterranean
way, she passed from the view of the nun following her, who was still
one turn up the staircase. It was upon this the Knight had counted,
when he laid his plains.
Six
Seven
Eight
Blessed Saint Joseph! How slowly they walked!
Nine
Ten
Eleven
The Knight gripped the cloak and moved a step further back into the
shadow.
Twelve
Were all the pillars rocking? Was the great new Cathedral coming down
upon his head?
Thirteen
The Prioress was beside him in the shadow.
She had stepped aside.
The twelfth White Lady was moving on, her back toward them.
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