She turned, opened the door, and led him into the parlour, where the silver lamp was burning brightly.
"You must tell it all again," she said, still standing. "I must be quite sure that I understand."
He knew well enough that she had finally yielded, since she went so far. In his mind he quickly ran over the details of the plan once more, and mentally settled what still remained to be decided. But since she wished it, he went over all he had said already. Being able to speak in his natural voice without fear of being overheard by the portress, and feeling sure of the result, he spoke far more easily and more eloquently. Before he had finished he was holding her hand in his, and she was gazing intently into his eyes.
"It is life or death for me," he said, when he had told her everything. "Which shall it be?"
She was silent for a moment. Then her strong mouth smiled strangely.
"It shall be life for you, if I lose my soul for it," she said.
She felt the quick thrill and pressure of his hand, and all the man's tremendous energy was alive again.
"Then let us do it quickly," he answered. "I will go out with the portress. Go to your cell before we reach the end of the corridor, and shut the door with some noise. She will remember it afterwards. Wait at the garden gate till I tap softly, and leave the rest to me. There is no danger. Do not be afraid."
"Afraid!" she exclaimed proudly. "How little you know me! It never was fear that held me. Besides—with you!"
The two last words told him more than all she had ever said before, and for the first time he wholly trusted her. Besides, it was to be only for a few minutes, while he went out by the front gate and walked round to the back of the convent. The plan was so well conceived that it could not fail when put into execution.