He had never been willing to act as confessor to this friend, the only woman he had loved in the healthy, smiling days of youth.

However, she insisted.
"I beg you to do so," said she; "you will help to work the miracle of my cure." Then he gave way and received the avowal of her fault, that impious rebellion induced by suffering, that rebellion against the Virgin who had remained deaf to her prayers.

And afterwards he granted her absolution in the sacramental form.
Meanwhile Abbe Judaine had already deposited the ciborium on a little table, between two lighted tapers, which looked like woeful stars in the semi-obscurity of the ward.

Madame de Jonquiere had just decided to open one of the windows quite wide, for the odour emanating from all the suffering bodies and heaped-up rags had become unbearable.

But no air came in from the narrow courtyard into which the window opened; though black with night, it seemed like a well of fire.