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which he had arrived； defending it as though it were a conquest； he
also insisted on enforcing all his legal rights； and he resented the
opposition and angry words of casual opponents with a harshness which
made them his lifelong enemies。
The first example which Urbain gave of this inflexibility was in
1620； when he gained a lawsuit against a priest named Meunier。 He
caused the sentence to be carried out with such rigour that he awoke
an inextinguishable hatred in Meunier's mind； which ever after burst
forth on the slightest provocation。
A second lawsuit； which he likewise gained； was one which he
undertook against the chapter of Sainte…Croix with regard to a house；
his claim to which the chapter； disputed。 Here again he displayed
the same determination to exact his strict legal rights to the last
iota； and unfortunately Mignon； the attorney of the unsuccessful
chapter； was a revengeful； vindictive； and ambitious man； too
commonplace ever to arrive at a high position； and yet too much above
his surroundings to be content with the secondary position which he
occupied。 This man； who was a canon of the collegiate church of
Sainte…Croix and director of the Ursuline convent； will have an
important part to play in the following narrative。 Being as
hypocritical as Urbain was straightforward； his ambition was to gain
wherever his name was known a reputation for exalted piety； he
therefore affected in his life the asceticism of an anchorite and the
self…denial of a saint。 As he had much experience in ecclesiastical
lawsuits； he looked on the chapter's loss of this one； of which he
had in some sort guaranteed the success； as a personal humiliation；
so that when Urbain gave himself airs of triumph and exacted the last
letter of his bond； as in the case of Meunier； he turned Mignon into
an enemy who was not only more relentless but more dangerous than the
former。
In the meantime； and in consequence of this lawsuit； a certain Barot；
an uncle of Mignon and his partner as well； got up a dispute with
Urbain； but as he was a man below mediocrity； Urbain required in
order to crush him only to let fall from the height of his
superiority a few of those disdainful words which brand as deeply as
a red…hot iron。 This man； though totally wanting in parts； was very
rich； and having no children was always surrounded by a horde of
relatives； every one of whom was absorbed in the attempt to make
himself so agreeable that his name would appear in Barot's will。
This being so； the mocking words which were rained down on Barot
spattered not only himself but also all those who had sided with him
in the quarrel； and thus added considerably to the tale of Urbain's
enemies。
About this epoch a still graver event took place。 Amongst the most
assiduous frequenters of the confessional in his church was a young
and pretty girl； Julie by name； the daughter of the king's attorney；
TrinquantTrinquant being； as well as Barot； an uncle of Mignon。
Now it happened that this young girl fell into such a state of
debility that she was obliged to keep her room。 One of her friends；
named Marthe Pelletier； giving up society； of which she was very
fond； undertook to nurse the patient； and carried her devotion so far
as to shut herself up in the same room with her。 When Julie
Trinquant had recovered and was able again to take her place in the
world； it came out that Marthe Pelletier； during her weeks of
retirement； had given birth to a child； which had been baptized and
then put out to nurse。 Now； by one of those odd whims which so often
take possession of the public mind； everyone in Loudun persisted in
asserting that the real mother of the infant was not she who had
acknowledged herself as suchthat； in short； Marthe Pelletier had
sold her good name to her friend Julie for a sum of money； and of
course it followed as a matter about which there could be no possible
doubt； that Urbain was the father。
Trinquant hearing of the reports about his daughter； took upon
himself as king's attorney to have Marthe Pelletier arrested and
imprisoned。 Being questioned about the child； she insisted that she
was its mother； and would take its maintenance upon herself。 To have
brought a child into the world under such circumstances was a sin；
but not a crime； Trinquant was therefore obliged to set Marthe at
liberty； and the abuse of justice of which he was guilty served only
to spread the scandal farther and to strengthen the public in the
belief it had taken up。
Hitherto； whether through the intervention of the heavenly powers； or
by means of his own cleverness； Urbain Grandier had come out victor
in every struggle in which he had engaged； but each victor had added
to the number of his enemies； and these were now so numerous that any
other than he would have been alarmed； and have tried either to
conciliate them or to take precautions against their malice； but
Urbain； wrapped in his pride； and perhaps conscious of his innocence；
paid no attention to the counsels of his most faithful followers； but
went on his way unheeding。
All the opponents whom till now Urbain had encountered had been
entirely unconnected with each other； and had each struggled for his
own individual ends。 Urbain's enemies； believing that the cause of
his success was to be found in the want of cooperation among
themselves； now determined to unite in order to crush him。 In
consequence； a conference was held at Barot's； at which； besides
Barot himself； Meunier； Trinquant； and Mignon took part； and the
latter had also brought with him one Menuau； a king's counsel and his
own most intimate friend； who was； however； influenced by other
motives than friendship in joining the conspiracy。 The fact was；
that Menuau was in love with a woman who had steadfastly refused to
show him any favour； and he had got firmly fixed in his head that the
reason for her else inexplicable indifference and disdain was that
Urbain had been beforehand with him in finding an entrance to her
heart。 The object of the meeting was to agree as to the best means
of driving the common enemy out of Loudon and its neighbourhood。
Urbain's life was so well ordered that it presented little which his
enemies could use as a handle for their purpose。 His only foible
seemed to be a predilection for female society； while in return all
the wives and daughters of the place； with the unerring instinct of
their sex； seeing； that the new priest was young； handsome； and
eloquent； chose him； whenever it was possible； as their spiritual
director。 As this preference had already offended many husbands and
fathers； the decision the conspirators arrived at was that on this
side alone was Grandier vulnerable； and that their only chance of
success was to attack him where he was weakest。 Almost at once；
therefore； the vague reports which had been floating about began to
attain a certain definiteness： there were allusions made； though no
name was mentioned； to a young girl in Loudun； who in spite of
Grandier's frequent unfaithfulness yet remained his mistress…in…
chief； then it began to be whispered that the young girl； having had
conscientious scruples