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he was subjected； felt a kindly interest in him； and advised him to
exchange into some other diocese； leaving a town the principal
inhabitants of which appeared to have vowed him a relentless hate。
But such an abandonment of his rights was foreign to the character of
Urbain； and he declared to his superior that； strong in His Grace's
approbation and the testimony of his own conscience； he would remain
in the place to which God had called him。 Monseigneur de Sourdis did
not feel it his duty to urge Urbain any further； but he had enough
insight into his character to perceive that if Urbain should one day
fall； it would be； like Satan； through pride； for he added another
sentence to his decision； recommending him to fulfil the duties of
his office with discretion and modesty； according to the decrees of
the Fathers and the canonical constitutions。 The triumphal entry of
Urbain into Loudun with which we began our narrative shows the spirit
in which he took his recommendation。
CHAPTER II
Urbain Granadier was not satisfied with the arrogant demonstration by
which he signalised his return； which even his friends had felt to be
ill advised； instead of allowing the hate he had aroused to die away
or at least to fall asleep by letting the past be past； he continued
with more zeal than ever his proceedings against Duthibaut； and
succeeded in obtaining a decree from the Parliament of La Tournelle；
by which Duthibaut was summoned before it； and obliged to listen
bareheaded to a reprimand； to offer apologies； and to pay damages and
costs。
Having thus got the better of one enemy； Urbain turned on the others；
and showed himself more indefatigable in the pursuit of justice than
they had been in the pursuit of vengeance。 The decision of the
archbishop had given him a right to a sum of money for compensation；
and interest thereon； as well as to the restitution of the revenues
of his livings； and there being some demur made； he announced
publicly that he intended to exact this reparation to the uttermost
farthing； and set about collecting all the evidence which was
necessary for the success of a new lawsuit for libel and forgery
which he intended to begin。 It was in vain that his friends assured
him that the vindication of his innocence had been complete and
brilliant； it was in vain that they tried to convince him of the
danger of driving the vanquished to despair； Urbain replied that he
was ready to endure all the persecutions which his enemies might
succeed in inflicting on him； but as long as he felt that he had
right upon his side he was incapable of drawing back。
Grandier's adversaries soon became conscious of the storm which was
gathering above their heads； and feeling that the struggle between
themselves and this man would be one of life or death； Mignon； Barot；
Meunier； Duthibaut； and Menuau met Trinquant at the village of
Pindadane； in a house belonging to the latter； in order to consult
about the dangers which threatened them。 Mignon had； however；
already begun to weave the threads of a new intrigue； which he
explained in full to the others； they lent a favourable ear； and his
plan was adopted。 We shall see it unfold itself by degrees； for it
is the basis of our narrative。
We have already said that Mignon was the director of the convent of
Ursulines at Loudun： Now the Ursuline order was quite modern； for the
historic controversies to which the slightest mention of the
martyrdom of St。 Ursula and her eleven thousand virgins gave rise；
had long hindered the foundation of an order in the saint's honour。
However； in 1560 Madame Angele de Bresse established such an order in
Italy； with the same rules as the Augustinian order。 This gained the
approbation of Pope Gregory XIII in 1572。 In 1614； Madeleine
Lhuillier； with the approval of Pope Paul V； introduced this order
into France； by founding a convent at Paris； whence it rapidly spread
over the whole kingdom； so…that in 1626； only six years before the
time when the events just related took place； a sisterhood was
founded in the little town of Loudun。
Although this community at first consisted entirely of ladies of good
family； daughters of nobles； officers； judges； and the better class
of citizens； and numbered amongst its founders Jeanne de Belfield；
daughter of the late Marquis of Cose； and relative of M。 de
Laubardemont； Mademoiselle de Fazili； cousin of the cardinal…duke；
two ladies of the house of Barbenis de Nogaret； Madame de Lamothe；
daughter of the Marquis Lamothe…Barace of Anjou； and Madame
d'Escoubleau de Sourdis； of the same family as the Archbishop of
Bordeaux； yet as these nuns had almost all entered the convent
because of their want of fortune； the community found itself at the
time of its establishment richer in blood than in money； and was
obliged instead of building to purchase a private house。 The owner
of this house was a certain Moussaut du Frene； whose brother was a
priest。 This brother； therefore； naturally became the first director
of these godly women。 Less than a year after his appointment he
died； and the directorship became vacant。
The Ursulines had bought the house in which they lived much below its
normal value； for it was regarded as a haunted house by all the town。
The landlord had rightly thought that there was no better way of
getting rid of the ghosts than to confront them with a religious
sisterhood； the members of which； passing their days in fasting and
prayer； would be hardly likely to have their nights disturbed by bad
spirits； and in truth； during the year which they had already passed
in the house； no ghost had ever put in an appearancea fact which
had greatly increased the reputation of the nuns for sanctity。
When their director died； it so happened that the boarders took
advantage of the occasion to indulge in some diversion at the expense
of the older nuns； who were held in general detestation by the youth
of the establishment on account of the rigour with which they
enforced the rules of the order。 Their plan was to raise once more
those spirits which had been； as everyone supposed； permanently
relegated to outer darkness。 So noises began to be heard on the roof
of the house； which resolved themselves into cries and groans； then
growing bolder； the spirits entered the attics and garrets；
announcing their presence by clanking of chains； at last they became
so familiar that they invaded the dormitories； where they dragged the
sheets off the sisters and abstracted their clothes。
Great was the terror in the convent； and great the talk in the town；
so that the mother superior called her wisest； nuns around her and
asked them what； in their opinion； would be the best course to take
in the delicate circumstances in which they found themselves。
Without a dissentient voice； the conclusion arrived at was； that the
late director should be immediately replaced by a man still holier
than he； if such a man could be found； and whether because he
possessed a reputation for sanctity； or for some other reason； their
choice fell on Urbain Grandier。 When the offer of the post was
brought to him； he answered that he was alr