"That is pretty well my position also," said the young man, shaking his head.
"Yours, Sir!" said she, with surprise.
"Yes, yes, mine, Madame; but continue, I beg."
"Our good superior can do but one single thing for us, but that is immense—it is to open for us the gates of the convent."
"That is much, indeed!"
"Unhappily, on the other side of this gate her power ceases completely, and she is constrained to leave us to ourselves."
"Alas! Yes," said the superior.
"Hum!" murmured the painter, like an echo.
"You understand how critical would be our position, wandering alone at hazard in a town which is completely unknown to us."
"Then you thought of me!"