“I want ten days’ freedom.”
“You, Vittoria?”
“I, yes.”
“To do what?”
“I want to make a retreat at Bambino Gesù now that Christmas is drawing near,” she concluded, in a low voice.
“A novena!” he exclaimed, internally relieved, but not showing it; “and what prevents you from doing it here?”
“It is impossible, Marco. It isn’t a question of prayer only. One must retire for nine whole days to a convent.”
“To a convent? Are you going to become a nun like Ophelia?”
“Why Ophelia? What do you mean?”