"Your transgression will be forgiven you since you have confessed and testify your horror for it." With distressful spirit, accepting humiliation as well-deserved chastisement for his chimerical fancies, Pierre retired, stepping backwards according to the customary ceremonial.

He made three deep bows and crossed the threshold without turning, followed by the black eyes of Leo XIII, which never left him.

Still he saw the Pope stretch his arm towards the table to take up the newspaper which he had been reading prior to the audience, for Leo retained a great fancy for newspapers, and was very inquisitive as to news, though in the isolation in which he lived he frequently made mistakes respecting the relative importance of articles.

And once more the chamber sank into deep quietude, whilst the two lamps continued to diffuse a soft and steady light.
In the centre of the _anticamera segreta_ Signor Squadra stood waiting black and motionless.

And on noticing that Pierre in his flurry forgot to take his hat from the pier table, he himself discreetly fetched it and handed it to the young priest with a silent bow.