outside the walls. But how could he address
the maiden in sight of all the inmates of the convent, she, whose name
was already coupled with his by the Nuns. Undetermined he stood there
and the passion of manhood fought an ignoble fight with the cowardice
of the priest. Laborers were tilling the ground around the vineyards;
children carried bundles of faggots down from the wood. It was evident
that no meeting was possible there; did Lydia wish to meet him,--and
she must have come with that intention--it must be in some quiet
sequestered spot. In his haste he could think of none other but the
crossroad avoided by the common people for its evil repute, which lay
above the Stift on the brow of the Heiligenberg and Dachsbau. There
were they safe. That the innocent child would lose her reputation if
seen in this notorious locality, did not trouble the disloyal priest,
if he himself could only get there without being seen. Thus he made the
appointment in a few hurried lines, wrapped the note in a silken cloth,
and beckoned to a red headed boy who was apparently standing
unconcernedly in the road. "Dost thou see the young lady, coming out of
that gate? She has lost this kerchief! I do not wish her to know
however who found it. Give it to her without betraying me and then run
away at once. Come back then here and if thou hast exactly done as I
told thee, I shall give thee a penny (groschen)." The boy scratched his
red head and grinned. Then took the kerchief and ran across the fields,
whilst Paul quickly turned towards the vineyards. When the boy
returned, he handed him his reward. Conscious of having interpreted
Lydia's wishes, Laurenzano returned satisfied with himself to his cell.
Was not Lydia's acceptance of the kerchief an infallible token, that
she assented to the _rendez-vous_? "_Volenti non fit injuria_" he
murmured. It is true that with a priestly prudence he had added the
words about the father. That was not right, it was devilish. But he
comforted himself. "I was obliged to help her to overcome her feelings
of modesty, so that she might have some excuse in her own eyes and in
mine for following the dictates of her heart." Even the choice of the
spot pleased him. He could by taking a lonely woodpath reach it unseen.
No one dared to come near that place after dusk, and his passion
depicted in burning colors how he might use to advantage this solitary
meeting. The risk to Lydia, were she seen, was not considered by his
p