"Beg the gentleman to enter; he is welcome," answered the abbess.
The portress disappeared, and the general entered; then, on a sign from the superior, the portress withdrew, closing the door behind her.
The superior was alone, sitting on her great abbess's chair; she held open a Book of Hours, which she appeared to be reading.
At the entry of the young man she slightly inclined her head, and, with a gesture, directed him to a seat.
"Pardon me, Madame," said he, bowing respectfully, "in thus coming so inopportunely to disturb your pious meditations."
"You are, you say, Señor caballero, sent to me by the governor of the town. In that capacity my duty is to receive you at any hour that you please to come," pursued she, in a tone of cold politeness. "You have no apologies to make me, but only to explain the reason for this visit."
"I am about to have the honour of explaining myself; as you so graciously request it, Madame," answered he, with a constrained smile, taking the seat which she had pointed out.
The conversation had commenced in a tone of frigid politeness, which completely expressed the relation which the two speakers wished to hold towards each other during the whole interview.
There was a silence of two or three minutes.
The Montonero turned and returned his hat in his hands with a vexed air; while the abbess, who pretended to read attentively the book which she had not abandoned, stealthily cast a mocking look at the officer.