For a moment both were speechless--then pointing to the page before him, he asked in a husky voice, "What is the meaning of this ?" and from beginning to end he read, with this strange hoarseness in his voice, the entry of his son's marriage to Valmai.

Not a word escaped him, not even the date, nor the names of the witnesses.

Then he turned his black eyes upon her once more, and repeated his question.
"What is the meaning of this?
I have heard of your shame, of your dishonour--of the disgraceful way in which you have entrapped my poor boy.

But what is this farce enacted here?
How dare you enter the House of God and forge this ridiculous statement?
Where is my son, whom you have lured to destruction ?" Valmai was shaken like a reed by this sudden and unexpected meeting, and the outburst of feeling exhibited by the "Vicare du" awoke in her own heart such a tumult of doubt and suspense, that she could no longer restrain the tears which for days she had kept in check; long, silent sobs heaved her bosom, she covered her face with her hands, and the tears trickled through her fingers, but she made no answer.
"Speak, girl," said the Vicar, "have you nothing to say for yourself?
no excuse to make for your conduct?
My son and I lived in perfect happiness together until you came to this neighbourhood; now you have led a young man on to his ruin and broken the heart of an old man--for this," he said, tapping the register with a trembling finger, "this is a lie--a forgery--a foolish piece of deceit, not worth the paper on which it is written!" Still Valmai spoke not a word.

Oh, what happiness it would have been to throw herself at the old man's feet, and to confess everything, here, where Cardo and she had plighted their troth--to have told him of her ignorance of his fate, of her distracted longing for his return.
Surely, surely he would have forgiven her! She was torn with conflicting feelings.