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〃Father Fauvent！〃
〃Reverend Mother！〃
〃You know that a mother died this morning？〃
〃No。〃
〃Did you not hear the bell？〃
〃Nothing can be heard at the bottom of the garden。〃
〃Really？〃
〃I can hardly distinguish my own signal。〃
〃She died at daybreak。〃
〃And then； the wind is not blowing in my direction this morning。〃
〃It was Mother Crucifixion。
A blessed woman。〃
The prioress paused； moved her lips； as though in mental prayer； and resumed：
〃Three years ago； Madame de Bethune； a Jansenist； turned orthodox； merely from having seen Mother Crucifixion at prayer。〃
〃Ah！ yes； now I hear the knell； reverend Mother。〃
〃The mothers have taken her to the dead…room； which opens on the church。〃
〃I know。〃
〃No other man than you can or must enter that chamber。
See to that。 A fine sight it would be； to see a man enter the dead…room！〃
〃More often！〃
〃Hey？〃
〃More often！〃
〃What do you say？〃
〃I say more often。〃
〃More often than what？〃
〃Reverend Mother； I did not say more often than what； I said more often。〃
〃I don't understand you。
Why do you say more often？〃
〃In order to speak like you； reverend Mother。〃
〃But I did not say ‘more often。'〃
At that moment； nine o'clock struck。
〃At nine o'clock in the morning and at all hours； praised and adored be the most Holy Sacrament of the altar；〃 said the prioress。
〃Amen；〃 said Fauchelevent。
The clock struck opportunely。
It cut 〃more often〃 short。 It is probable； that had it not been for this； the prioress and Fauchelevent would never have unravelled that skein。
Fauchelevent mopped his forehead。
The prioress indulged in another little inward murmur； probably sacred； then raised her voice：
〃In her lifetime； Mother Crucifixion made converts； after her death； she will perform miracles。〃
〃She will！〃 replied Father Fauchelevent； falling into step； and striving not to flinch again。
〃Father Fauvent； the munity has been blessed in Mother Crucifixion。 No doubt； it is not granted to every one to die； like Cardinal de Berulle； while saying the holy mass； and to breathe forth their souls to God； while pronouncing these words：
Hanc igitur oblationem。 But without attaining to such happiness； Mother Crucifixion's death was very precious。
She retained her consciousness to the very last moment。
She spoke to us； then she spoke to the angels。 She gave us her last mands。
If you had a little more faith； and if you could have been in her cell； she would have cured your leg merely by touching it。
She smiled。
We felt that she was regaining her life in God。
There was something of paradise in that death。〃
Fauchelevent thought that it was an orison which she was finishing。
〃Amen；〃 said he。
〃Father Fauvent； what the dead wish must be done。〃
The prioress took off several beads of her chaplet。
Fauchelevent held his peace。
She went on：
〃I have consulted upon this point many ecclesiastics laboring in Our Lord； who occupy themselves in the exercises of the clerical life； and who bear wonderful fruit。〃
〃Reverend Mother； you can hear the knell much better here than in the garden。〃
〃Besides； she is more than a dead woman； she is a saint。〃
〃Like yourself； reverend Mother。〃
〃She slept in her coffin for twenty years； by express permission of our Holy Father； Pius VII。〃
〃The one who crowned the EmpBuonaparte。〃
For a clever man like Fauchelevent； this allusion was an awkward one。 Fortunately； the prioress； pletely absorbed in her own thoughts； did not hear it。
She continued：
〃Father Fauvent？〃
〃Reverend Mother？〃
〃Saint Didorus； Archbishop of Cappadocia； desired that this single word might be inscribed on his tomb：
Acarus； which signifies； a worm of the earth； this was done。
Is this true？〃
〃Yes； reverend Mother。〃
〃The blessed Mezzocane； Abbot of Aquila； wished to be buried beneath the gallows； this was done。〃
〃That is true。〃
〃Saint Terentius； Bishop of Port； where the mouth of the Tiber empties into the sea； requested that on his tomb might be engraved the sign which was placed on the graves of parricides； in the hope that passers…by would spit on his tomb。
This was done。 The dead must be obeyed。〃
〃So be it。〃
〃The body of Bernard Guidonis； born in France near Roche…Abeille； was； as he had ordered； and in spite of the king of Castile； borne to the church of the Dominicans in Limoges； although Bernard Guidonis was Bishop of Tuy in Spain。
Can the contrary be affirmed？〃
〃For that matter； no； reverend Mother。〃
〃The fact is attested by Plantavit de la Fosse。〃
Several beads of the chaplet were told off； still in silence。 The prioress resumed：
〃Father Fauvent； Mother Crucifixion will be interred in the coffin in which she has slept for the last twenty years。〃
〃That is just。〃
〃It is a continuation of her slumber。〃
〃So I shall have to nail up that coffin？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And we are to reject the undertaker's coffin？〃
〃Precisely。〃
〃I am at the orders of the very reverend munity。〃
〃The four Mother Precentors will assist you。〃
〃In nailing up the coffin？
I do not need them。〃
〃No。 In lowering the coffin。〃
〃Where？〃
〃Into the vault。〃
〃What vault？〃
〃Under the altar。〃
Fauchelevent started。
〃The vault under the altar？〃
〃Under the altar。〃
〃But〃
〃You will have an iron bar。〃
〃Yes； but〃
〃You will raise the stone with the bar by means of the ring。〃
〃But〃
〃The dead must be obeyed。
To be buried in the vault under the altar of the chapel； not to go to profane earth； to remain there in death where she prayed while living； such was the last wish of Mother Crucifixion。
She asked it of us； that is to say； manded us。〃
〃But it is forbidden。〃
〃Forbidden by men； enjoined by God。〃
〃What if it became known？〃
〃We have confidence in you。〃
〃Oh！
I am a stone in your walls。〃
〃The chapter assembled。
The vocal mothers； whom I have just consulted again； and who are n