“Yes, but only for twenty-four hours; the new professed sister has invited me to supper in her room, and you must understand I cannot invent any plausible excuse for refusing her invitation.”
“You would not, then, tell her in confidence the very legitimate obstacle which makes me wish that the new sisters never take supper?”
“Certainly not: we never trust anyone so far in a convent. Besides, dearest, such an invitation cannot be declined unless I wish to gain a most bitter enemy.”
“Could you not say that you are ill?”
“Yes; but then the visits!”
“I understand; if you should refuse, the escape might be suspected.”
“The escape! impossible; here no one admits the possibility of breaking out of the convent.”
“Then you are the only one able to perform that miracle?”
“You may be sure of that; but, as is always the case, it is gold which performs that miracle.”
“And many others, perhaps.”