There was a moment's intense silence. Then Paul turned swiftly round to where Adrea stood, a little behind him. But the suspicions which had commenced to crowd in upon him vanished before even they had taken to themselves definite shape. Her surprise was as great as his; and, as their eyes met, she shuddered with the memory which his presence had recalled.
"Paul de Vaux, I had no thought of meeting you here," Father Adrian said sternly.
Paul met his gaze haughtily. There was a rebuke, almost a threat, in the priest's tone which angered him. Whatever his presence here might betide, he was in no way responsible for it to Father Adrian.
"Nor I you," he answered. "I imagined that you were staying at the monastery."
"I am staying there."
Madame de Merteuill stepped slowly into the room. She was still trembling, and had all the appearance of a woman sore stricken by some unexpected calamity. Even her voice was faint and broken.
"Father Adrian is a visitor here only—an unexpected one—like yourself."
"Why is he here?" Adrea asked slowly. "Has he come to see us again? What does he want?"
Father Adrian turned towards her, grave and severe. "I have come to see Madame de Merteuill. I bring her a message from an old man whom, by her absence, she is wronging. You I did not expect to find here,—and thus."