"This is hard to believe," said the superior. "And I do not believe you, from what is supernatural and inexplicable in what happens."
"It was this very letter which determined me to hurry on our wedding," said Count Fenix, without heeding the interruption. "I love Lorenza as much as she loves me. In our roaming life, accidents might happen. If I died, I wanted my property to be my dear one's; so we were united when we reached Strasburg."
"But she told me that she was not your wife."
"Lorenza," said the count, without replying to the abbess, and turning to the Italian, "do you remember where and when we were married?"
"Yes; in the St. John's Chapel of Strasburg Cathedral, on the third of May."
"Did you oppose any resistance to the marriage?"
"The fact is, Lorenza," continued the count, taking her hand, "the princess thinks you were constrained to it."
"I hate you?" she said, shivering all over with delight. "Oh, no; I love you. You are good, generous and mighty."
Seized with affright, the princess recoiled to where an ivory crucifix gleamed on a black velvet background.
"Is this all your highness wishes to know?" asked Fenix, letting Lorenza's hand fall.
"Keep away!" gasped the abbess; "and she, too!"
A carriage was heard to stop before the nunnery door.
"The cardinal?" exclaimed the lady superior; "we shall see how things stand at last."
Fenix bowed, said a few words to the Italian woman, and waited with the calmness of one who directs events.
In another instant the door opened and Cardinal Rohan was announced.
"Show him in," said the abbess, encouraged by the new addition to the party being a churchman.
The prince had no sooner saluted the princess than he exclaimed with surprise on seeing Balsamo:
"Are you acquaintances?" cried the princess, more and more astonished. "Then you can tell me who this is."
"Nothing is easier; the gentleman is a magician."
"His eminence will make this clear presently, and to everybody's satisfaction," said the count.
"Has the gentleman been telling your highness' fortune, that I see you so affected?" questioned the cardinal.
"The marriage certificate at once!" cried the princess, to the astonishment of the newcomer, ignorant of the allusion.
"My lord, the question is, whether this paper is real and the signature valid?" said the princess, as Balsamo held out the document.