There was a dead silence, which lasted for a space, until it grew almost painful in its intensity. At last Benilo spoke.
"To return to the night of her interment. Was there no one near you, to dispel those dread phantoms which maddened your brain?"
"I had suffered no one to remain. I wished to be alone with my grief."
"But whence the blow?"
"The masons had wrenched away an iron bar, in walling up the old entrance. Had the height been greater, I would not be here to tell the tale."
Benilo drew a deep breath. He was ghastly pale.
"But your purpose in Rome?"
"I will find the monk who conducted the last rites—I will have speech with Nilus, the hermit. If all else fails, the cloister still remains."
"Let me entreat you not to hasten the irrevocable step. Neither your king nor your country can spare their illustrious leader."
"Otto has made his peace with Rome. He has no further need of me," Eckhardt replied with bitterness. "But this I promise. I shall do nothing, until I have had speech with the holy hermit of Gaëta. Whatever he shall enjoin, thereby will I abide. I shall do nothing hastily, or ill-advised."