“To-morrow afternoon,” said she, “we will fix the day and the hour for the visit.” Next day I paid my usual visit to the recluses, and the superioress came to tell me that the cardinal had told her that the Princess Santa Croce was coming to visit the house with some friends. “I know it,” said I; “I am coming with her.” “When is she coming?” “I don’t know yet, but I will inform you later on.” “This novelty has turned the house upside down. The devotees scarcely know whether they are awake or dreaming, for with the exception of a few priests, the doctor, and the surgeon, no one has ever entered the house since its foundation.” “All these restrictions are now removed, and you need not ask the cardinal’s permission to receive visits from your friends.” “I know that, but I don’t like to go so far.” The time for the visit was fixed for the afternoon of the next day, and I let the superioress know early the next morning. The Duchess of Fiano had asked to join us; the cardinal came, of course, dressed as a simple priest, with no indication of his exalted rank. He knew Armelline directly from my description, and congratulated her on having made my acquaintance. The poor girl blushed to the roots of her hair; and I thought she would have fainted when the princess, after telling her she was the prettiest girl in the house, gave her two affectionate kisses, a mark of friendship strictly forbidden by the rules. After these caresses, the princess proceeded to compliment the superioress. She said that I had done well to praise her parts, as she could judge of them by the order and neatness which reigned everywhere. “I shall mention your name to Cardinal Orsini,” she added, “and you may be sure I shall do you all the justice you deserve.” When we had seen all the rooms, which contained nothing worth seeing, I presented Emilie to the princess, who received her with great cordiality. “I have heard of your sadness,” she said, “but I know the reason of it. You are a good girl, and pretty too, and I shall get you a husband who will cure you of your melancholy.” The superioress gave a smile of approbation, but I saw a dozen aged devotees pulling wry faces. Emilie dared not reply, but she took the princess’s hand and kissed it, as if to summon her to keep her promise. As for me, I was delighted to see that though all the girls were really pretty, my Armelline eclipsed them all, as the light of the sun obscures the stars. When we came down to the parlour, the princess told Armelline that she meant to ask leave of the cardinal to take her two or three times to the theatre before Lent began. This observation seemed to petrify everyone except the superioress, who said that his eminence had now a perfect right to relax any or all of the rules of the establishment.