And the Cardinal, who understood him, gently led Benedetta into the dining-room, whither Pierre and Don Vigilio followed.
When the doors had been closed, the most mournful and oppressive silence reigned in that dining-room, which the bright sun of winter filled with such delightful warmth and radiance.

The table was still laid, its cloth strewn here and there with bread-crumbs; and a coffee cup had remained half full.

In the centre stood the basket of figs, whose covering of leaves had been removed.

However, only two or three of the figs were missing.

And in front of the window was Tata, the female parrot, who had flown out of her cage and perched herself on her stand, where she remained, dazzled and enraptured, amidst the dancing dust of a broad yellow sunray.