To her great relief, the woman replied that she had taken part in the cult ceremony and then had supped in the refectory.
“I knew that before, stupid!” Father Benedict shouted. “The girl must still be in the building. I’ll find her, and when I do—”
Waiting to hear no more, Penny retreated to the cloister. All candles had been blown out and it was very dark.
“I must get out of here now or never!” she thought. “Father Benedict will start looking for me and he’ll probably order Winkey to watch the gates.”
Starting hurriedly along the cloister, she heard approaching footsteps. Momentarily confused, she started up a short, steep stairway to a balcony overlooking the court.
Belatedly, Penny realized she had turned toward the dormitories.
Opening from the balcony was a bedroom door which stood partly ajar.
After listening for a moment, and hearing no movement inside, she cautiously tiptoed into the room.
“A window here may be unlocked,” she thought. “If the drop to the ground isn’t too far, maybe I can get out this way.”
As Penny crossed the room, an elderly woman she had failed to see, suddenly sat up in bed.