He talked a good deal about his age, his infirmities, years hence-forward reckoning double for him, the growing demands of his work, nights to pass,--as, for instance, the last, in which he was obliged to draw matting over the melon frames, owing to the moon,--and he ended with this, that he had a brother (the prioress gave a start),--a brother who was not young (a second start, but not so alarmed),--that if leave were granted, this brother would come and live with him and help him; that he was an excellent gardener, and would be of more use to the community than himself was; and that, on the other hand, if his brother's services were not accepted, as he, the elder, felt worn out and unequal to his work, he would be compelled, to his great regret, to give up his situation; and that his brother had a little girl whom he would bring with him, and who would be brought into the house, and might--who knew?--become a nun some day. When he had finished speaking, the prioress broke off her occupation of letting the beads of her rosary slip through her fingers, and said,-- "Could you procure a strong iron bar between this and to-night?" "What to do?" "To act as a lever." "Yes, Reverend Mother," Father Fauchelevent replied. The prioress, without adding a syllable, rose and walked into the adjoining room, where the Chapter was assembled. Fauchelevent was left alone. CHAPTER III. MOTHER INNOCENT. About a quarter of an hour passed ere the prioress came in again and sat down on her chair. The two speakers appeared preoccupied. We will do our best to record their conversation accurately. "Father Fauvent?" "Reverend Mother?" "Do you know the chapel?" "I have a little cage in it where I hear Mass and the offices." "And have you gone into the choir for your work?" "Two or three times." "A stone will have to be lifted." "What stone?" "The one at the side of the altar." "The stone that closes the vault?" "Yes." "That is a job where two men would be useful." "Mother Ascension, who is as strong as a man, will help you." "A woman is never a man." "We have only a woman to help you, and everybody does the best. Although Dom Mabillon gives four hundred and seventeen epistles of Saint Bernard, and Merlonus Horstius only gives three hundred and sixty-seven, I do not despise Merlonus Horstius." "Nor I." "The merit is to work according to your strength. A convent is not a work-yard." "And a woman is not a man. My brother is a strong fellow!" "And then, you will have a crowbar." "It is the only sort of key that fits such locks." "There is a ring in the stone." "I will put the crowbar through it." "And the stone works on hinges." "All right, Reverend Mother, I will open the vault." "And the four chanting mothers will help you." "And when the vault is open?" "You must shut it again." "Is that all?" "No." "Give me your orders, most Reverend Mother." "Fauvent, we place confidence in you." "I am here to do everything."