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he was none the less as determined as ever to have revenge； and as he
was one of those men who never give up while a gleam of hope remains；
and whom no waiting can tire； he bided his time； avoiding notice；
apparently resigned to circumstances； but keeping his eyes fixed on
Grandier； ready to seize on the first chance of recovering possession
of the prey that had escaped his hands。 And unluckily the chance
soon presented itself。
It was now 1633： Richelieu was at the height of his power； carrying
out his work of destruction； making castles fall before him where he
could not make heads fall； in the spirit of John Knox's words；
〃Destroy the nests and the crows will disappear。〃 Now one of these
nests was the crenellated castle of Loudun； and Richelieu had
therefore ordered its demolition。
The person appointed to carry out this order was a man such as those
whom Louis XI。 had employed fifty years earlier to destroy the feudal
system； and Robespierre one hundred and fifty years later to destroy
the aristocracy。 Every woodman needs an axe； every reaper a sickle；
and Richelieu found the instrument he required in de Laubardemont；
Councillor of State。
But he was an instrument full of intelligence； detecting by the
manner in which he was wielded the moving passion of the wielder； and
adapting his whole nature with marvellous dexterity to gratify that
passion according to the character of him whom it possessed； now by a
rough and ready impetuosity； now by a deliberate and hidden advance；
equally willing to strike with the sword or to poison by calumny； as
the man who moved him lusted for the blood or sought to accomplish
the dishonour of his victim。
M。 de Laubardemont arrived at Loudun during the month of August 1633；
and in order to carry out his mission addressed himself to Sieur
Memin de Silly； prefect of the town； that old friend of the
cardinal's whom Mignon and Barre； as we have said； had impressed so
favourably。 Memin saw in the arrival of Laubardemont a special
intimation that it was the will of Heaven that the seemingly lost
cause of those in whom he took such a warm interest should ultimately
triumph。 He presented Mignon and all his friends to M。 Laubardemont；
who received them with much cordiality。 They talked of the mother
superior； who was a relation； as we have seen； of M。 de Laubardemont；
and exaggerated the insult offered her by the decree of the
archbishop； saying it was an affront to the whole family； and before
long the one thing alone which occupied the thoughts of the
conspirators and the councillor was how best to draw down upon
Grandier the anger of the cardinal…duke。 A way soon opened。
The Queen mother； Marie de Medici； had among her attendants a woman
called Hammon； to whom； having once had occasion to speak； she had
taken a fancy； and given a post near her person。 In consequence of
this whim； Hammon came to be regarded as a person of some importance
in the queen's household。 Hammon was a native of Loudun； and had
passed the greater part of her youth there with her own people； who
belonged to the lower classes。 Grandier had been her confessor； and
she attended his church； and as she was lively and clever he enjoyed
talking to her； so that at length an intimacy sprang up between them。
It so happened at a time when he and the other ministers were in
momentary disgrace； that a satire full of biting wit and raillery
appeared； directed especially against the cardinal； and this satire
had been attributed to Hammon； who was known to share； as was
natural； her mistress's hatred of Richelieu。 Protected as she was by
the queen's favour； the cardinal had found it impossible to punish
Hammon； but he still cherished a deep resentment against her。
It now occurred to the conspirators to accuse Grandier of being the
real author of the satire； and it was asserted that he had learned
from Hammon all the details of the cardinal's private life； the
knowledge of which gave so much point to the attack on him； if they
could once succeed in making Richelieu believe this； Grandier was
lost。
This plan being decided on； M。 de Laubardemont was asked to visit the
convent； and the devils knowing what an important personage he was；
flocked thither to give him a worthy welcome。 Accordingly； the nuns
had attacks of the most indescribably violent convulsions； and M。 de
Laubardemont returned to Paris convinced as to the reality of their
possession。
The first word the councillor of state said to the cardinal about
Urbain Grandier showed him that he had taken useless trouble in
inventing the story about the satire； for by the bare mention of his
name he was able to arouse the cardinal's anger to any height he
wished。 The fact was； that when Richelieu had been Prior of Coussay
he and Grandier had had a quarrel on a question of etiquette； the
latter as priest of Loudun having claimed precedence over the prior；
and carried his point。 The cardinal had noted the affront in his
bloodstained tablets； and at the first hint de Laubardemont found him
as eager to bring about Grandier's ruin as was the councillor
himself。
De Laubardemont was at once granted the following commission ：
〃Sieur de Laubardemont； Councillor of State and Privy Councillor；
will betake himself to Loudun； and to whatever other places may be
necessary； to institute proceedings against Grandier on all the
charges formerly preferred against him； and on other facts which have
since come to light； touching the possession by evil spirits of the
Ursuline nuns of Loudun； and of other persons； who are said like wise
to be tormented of devils through the evil practices of the said
Grandier； he will diligently investigate everything from the
beginning that has any bearing either on the said possession or on
the exorcisms； and will forward to us his report thereon； and the
reports and other documents sent in by former commissioners and
delegates； and will be present at all future exorcisms； and take
proper steps to obtain evidence of the said facts； that they may be
clearly established； and； above all； will direct； institute； and
carry through the said proceedings against Grandier and all others
who have been involved with him in the said case； until definitive
sentence be passed； and in spite of any appeal or countercharge this
cause will not be delayed （but without prejudice to the right of
appeal in other causes）； on account of the nature of the crimes； and
no regard will be paid to any request for postponement made by the
said Grandier。 His majesty commands all governors； provincial
lieutenant…generals； bailiffs； seneschals； and other municipal
authorities； and all subjects whom it may concern； to give every
assistance in arresting and imprisoning all persons whom it may be
necessary to put under constraint； if they shall be required so to
do。〃
Furnished with this order； which was equivalent to a condemnation； de
Laubardemont arrived at Laudun； the 5th of December； 1633； at nine
o'clock in the evening； and to avoid being seen he alighted in a
suburb at the house of one maitre Paul Aubin； king's usher； and son…
in…law of Memin de Silly。 His arrival was