'That is quite different! How can you ask such an absurd question?'
'It is not absurd, and the case is not so different as you think. I have given my word to God in heaven, and I must pay my debt.'
Giovanni was indignant again, and rebelled.
'You used to tell me that your God was just!'
'And I have heard you say that your only god was honour!' retorted the nun.
'Yes!' he answered hotly. 'It is! Honour teaches that the first promise given must be fulfilled before all others!'
'I have been taught that vows made to God must not be broken.'
She rose, as if the speech were final. Though they had been talking only a few minutes, she already felt that she could not bear much more.
'Surely you are not going already!' he cried, starting to his feet.
Sister Giovanna turned so that she was face to face with him.
'What is there left to say?' she asked, with a great effort.
'Everything! I told you that I would answer when you had finished, and now that you have nothing left to say, you must hear me! You said you would----'
'I said that there could be no answer.' Nevertheless she waited, motionless.
'But there is! The answer is that I will free you from the slavery to which you have sold your soul! The answer is, I love you, and it is yourself I love, the woman you are now, not the memory of your shadow from long ago, but you, you, your very self!'
Half out of his mind, he tried to seize her by the arm, to draw her to him; but he only caught her sleeve, and dropped it as she sprang back with a lightness and maiden grace that almost drove him mad. She drew herself up, offended and hurt.
Giovanni's manner changed so suddenly that she would have been suspicious, if she had not been too much disturbed to reason. She fancied that she still controlled him.
'You are right,' he said; 'I beg your pardon. Only tell me when I may see you again.'
'Not for a long time--not till you can give me your word that you will control yourself. Till then, we must say good-bye.'
He was so quiet, all at once, that it was easier to say the word than she had expected.
'No,' he answered, 'not good-bye, for even if you will not see me, I shall be near you.'
'I am living in my brother's rooms at the Magazine. I am in charge till he gets well. I asked permission to take his place on the day I arrived, from the Minister himself.'