“Your boldness confounds me! Shall I conceal your crime, I whom you have deceived by your feigned confession? No, daughter, no! I will render you a more essential service. I will rescue you from perdition in spite of yourself; penance and mortification shall expiate your offence, and severity force you back to the paths of holiness. What; ho! Mother St. Agatha!”

“Father! By all that is sacred, by all that is most dear to you, I supplicate, I entreat.⁠ ⁠…”

“Release me! I will not hear you. Where is the domina? Mother St. Agatha, where are you?”

The door of the vestry opened, and the prioress entered the chapel, followed by her nuns.