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veritably possessed； being convinced by the testimony of the devout
ecclesiastics in whose presence the evil spirits had come out。 This
was only the ostensible reason for their refusal； the real one being
that the advocate was a relation of Mignon's； and the attorney a son…
in…law of Trinquant's； to whose office he had succeeded。 Thus
Grandier； against whom were all the ecclesiastical judges； began to
feel as if he were condemned beforehand by the judges of the royal
courts； for he knew how very short was the interval between the
recognition of the possession as a fact and the recognition of
himself as its author。
Nevertheless； in spite of the formal declarations of the king's
advocate and attorney； the bailiff ordered the superior and the lay
sister to be removed to houses in town； each to be accompanied by a
nun as companion。 During their absence from the convent they were to
be looked after by exorcists； by women of high character and
position； as well as by physicians and attendants； all of whom he
himself would appoint； all others being forbidden access to the nuns
without his permission。
The clerk was again sent to the convent with a copy of this decision；
but the superior having listened to the reading of the document；
answered that in her own name and that of the sisterhood she refused
to recognise the jurisdiction of the bailiff； that she had already
received directions from the Bishop of Poitiers； dated 18th November；
explaining the measures which were to be taken in the matter； and she
would gladly send a copy of these directions to the bailiff； to
prevent his pleading ignorance of them； furthermore； she demurred to
the order for her removal； having vowed to live always secluded in a
convent； and that no one could dispense her from this vow but the
bishop。 This protest having been made in the presence of Madame de
Charnisay； aunt of two of the nuns； and Surgeon Mannouri； who was
related to another； they both united in drawing up a protest against
violence； in case the bailiff should insist on having his orders
carried out； declaring that； should he make the attempt； they would
resist him； as if he were a mere private individual。 This document
being duly signed and witnessed was immediately sent to the bailiff
by the hand of his own clerk； whereupon the bailiff ordered that
preparations should be made with regard to the sequestration； and
announced that the next day； the 24th November； he would repair to
the convent and be present at the exorcisms。
The next day accordingly； at the appointed hour； the bailiff summoned
Daniel Roger； Vincent de Faux； Gaspard Joubert； and Matthieu Fanson；
all four physicians； to his presence； and acquainting them with his
reasons for having called them； asked them to accompany him to the
convent to examine； with the most scrupulous impartiality； two nuns
whom he would point out； in order to discover if their illness were
feigned； or arose from natural or supernatural causes。 Having thus
instructed them as to his wishes； they all set out for the convent。
They were shown into the chapel and placed close to the altar； being
separated by a grating from the choir； in which the nuns who sang
usually sat。 In a few moments the superior was carried in on a small
bed； which was laid down before the grating。 Barre then said mass；
during which the superior went into violent convulsions。 She threw
her arms about； her fingers were clenched； her cheeks enormously
inflated； and her eyes turned up so that only the whites could be
seen。
The mass finished； Barre approached her to administer the holy
communion and to commence the exorcism。 Holding the holy wafer in
his hand； he said
〃Adora Deum tuum； creatorem tuum〃 （Adore God； thy Creator）。
The superior hesitated； as if she found great difficulty in making
this act of love； but at length she said
〃Adoro te〃 （I adore Thee）。
〃Quem adoras？〃 （Whom dost thou adore？）
〃Jesus Christus〃 （Jesus Christ）； answered the nun； quite unconscious
that the verb adorn governs accusative。
This mistake； which no sixth…form boy would make； gave rise to bursts
of laughter in the church； and Daniel Douin； the provost's assessor；
was constrained to say aloud
〃There's a devil for you； who does not know much about transitive
verbs。〃
Barre perceiving the bad impression that the superior's nominative
had made； hastened to ask her
〃Quis est iste quem adoras？〃 （Who is it whom thou dost adore？）
His hope was that she would again reply 〃 Jesus Christus；〃 but he was
disappointed。
〃Jesu Christe；〃 was her answer。
Renewed shouts of laughter greeted this infraction of one of the most
elementary rules of syntax； and several of those present exclaimed
〃Oh； your reverence； what very poor Latin！〃
Barre pretended not to hear； and next asked what was the name of the
demon who had taken possession of her。 The poor superior； who was
greatly confused by the unexpected effect of her last two answers；
could not speak for a long time； but at length with great trouble she
brought out the name Asmodee； without daring to latinise it。 The
exorcist then inquired how many devils the superior had in her body；
and to this question she replied quite fluently
〃Sex〃 （ Six）。
The bailiff upon this requested Barre to ask the chief devil how many
evil spirits he had with him。 But the need for this answer had been
foreseen； and the nun unhesitatingly returned
〃Quinque〃 （Five）。
This answer raised Asmodee somewhat in the opinion of those present；
but when the bailiff adjured the superior to repeat in Greek what she
had just said in Latin she made no reply； and on the adjuration being
renewed she immediately recovered her senses。
The examination of the superior being thus cut short； a little nun
who appeared for the first time in public was brought forward。 She
began by twice pronouncing the name of Grandier with a loud laugh；
then turning to the bystanders； called out
〃For all your number； you can do nothing worth while。〃
As it was easy to see that nothing of importance was to be expected
from this new patient； she was soon suppressed； and her place taken
by the lay sister Claire who had already made her debut in the mother
superior's room
Hardly had she entered the choir than she uttered a groan； but as
soon as they placed her on the little bed on which the other nuns had
lain； she gave way to uncontrollable laughter； and cried out between
the paroxysms
〃Grandier； Grandier； you must buy some at the market。〃
Barre at once declared that these wild and whirling words were a
proof of possession； and approached to exorcise the demon； but Sister
Claire resisted； and pretending to spit in the face of the exorcist；
put out her tongue at him； making indecent gestures； using a word in
harmony with her actions。 This word being in the vernacular was
understood by everyone and required no interpretation。
The exorcist then conjured her to give the name of the demon who was
in her； and she replied
〃Grandier。〃
But Barre by repeating his question gave her to understand that she
had made a mistake； whereupon she corrected herself and said
〃Elimi。〃