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ccompanyCheccotothePalace,andIthoughtyouwouldhavetoleavehereearly,soIpostponedtheconfessional.'
'YouhavepreferredearthandmetoHeavenandtheworthyfather?'
'YouknowIwoulddomoreforyouthanthat,'sheanswered.
'Youwitch!'
Shetookmyarm.
'Come,'shesaid,'comeandsitinoneofthetranseptchapelsitisquietanddarkthere.'
Itwasdeliciouslycool.Thelightcamedimlythroughthecolouredglass,clothingthemarbleofthechapelinmysteriousredsandpurples,andtheairwasfaintlyscentedwithincense.Sittingtheresheseemedtogainanewcharm.Before,Ihadneverreallyappreciatedtheextremebeautyofthebrownhairtingedwithred,itswonderfulqualityandluxuriance.Itriedtothinkofsomethingtosay,butcouldnot.Isatandlookedather,andtheperfumesofherbodyblendedwiththeincense.
'Whydon'tyouspeak?'shesaid.
'I'msorryIhavenothingtosay.'
Shelaughed.
'Tellmeofwhatyouarethinking.'
'Idaren't,'Isaid.
Shelookedatme,repeatingthewishwithhereyes.
'Iwasthinkingyouwereverybeautiful.'
Sheturnedtomeandleantforwardsothatherfacewasclosetominehereyesacquiredalookofdeep,voluptuouslanguor.Wesatwithoutspeaking,andmyheadbegantowhirl.
Theclockstruckten.
'Imustgo,'Isaid,breakingthesilence.
'Yes,'sheanswered,'butcometo-nightandtellmewhathashappened.'
IpromisedIwould,thenaskedwhetherIshouldleadhertoanotherpartofthechurch.
'No,leavemehere,'shesaid.'Itissogoodandquiet.Iwillstayandthink.'
'Ofwhat?'Isaid.
Shedidnotspeak,butshesmiledsothatIunderstoodheranswer.
