His heart beat faster.

Were they not, indeed, stars?
He was obliged to remind himself of the feeling of the bed, and that he was alive, in order to convince himself that they were stars, but that he was not lying on the moon.
Where was he, then?
He gave himself up to a sense of sweetness which was coming over him, the sweetness of hardly feeling his body any longer, but of feeling God in his soul, so near, so tender, so warm.

He was where God wished him to be.
A hand was laid on his forehead, an electric light dazzled his eyes, and an affectionate, strong voice said: "Well, how do you feel ?" He recognised Mayda.

Then he asked him where he was, why he was not in his little old room?
Before the Professor could answer, Benedetto was assailed by a painful doubt.

The Crucifix?
The dear Crucifix?
Had it been left at the Senator's house?
The Crucifix was standing on the table by his side.