Chapter 11: Mary and Magdalene

⁠​​​‌​​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​⁠"On the cross"—was it a consolation or a menace? Who could decipher this rune? It was like all the sayings of oracles. History would explain its meaning, and when this was done, it would be too late, for it would be fulfilled! The countess still sat motionless in the old arbor. Her destiny had commenced on the cross, that was certain. Hitherto she had been a blind blank, driven like thousands by t