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attempt to find out the cause of the enmity of which the superior had
spoken； and which it was so important to find out； but Mignon excused
himself by saying that he had no right to put questions merely to
gratify curiosity。 The civil lieutenant was about to insist on the
matter being investigated； when the lay sister in her turn went into
a fit； thus extricating Mignon from his embarrassment。 The
magistrates approached the lay sister's bed at once； and directed
Mignon to put the same questions to her as to the superior： he did
so； but all in vain； all she would reply was； 〃To the other！ To the
other！〃
Mignon explained this refusal to answer by saying that the evil
spirit which was in her was of an inferior order； and referred all
questioners to Ashtaroth； who was his superior。 As this was the only
explanation； good or bad； offered them by Mignon； the magistrates
went away； and drew up a report of all they had seen and heard
without comment； merely appending their signatures。
But in the town very few people showed the same discretion and
reticence as the magistrates。 The bigoted believed； the hypocrites
pretended to believe； and the worldly…minded； who were numerous；
discussed the doctrine of possession in all its phases； and made no
secret of their own entire incredulity。 They wondered； and not
without reason it must be confessed； what had induced the devils to
go out of the nuns' bodies for two days only； and then come back and
resume possession； to the confusion of the exorcists； further； they
wanted to know why the mother superior's devil spoke Latin； while the
lay sister's was ignorant of that tongue； for a mere difference of
rank in the hierarchy of hell did not seem a sufficient explanation
of such a difference in education； Mignon's refusal to go on with his
interrogations as to the cause of the enmity made them； they said；
suspect that； knowing he had reached the end of Ashtaroth's classical
knowledge； he felt it useless to try to continue the dialogue in the
Ciceronian idiom。 Moreover； it was well known that only a few days
before all Urbain's worst enemies had met in conclave in the village
of Puidardane； and besides； how stupidly Mignon had shown his hand by
mentioning Gaufredi； the priest who had been executed at Aix： lastly；
why had not a desire for impartiality been shown by calling in other
than Carmelite monks to be present at the exorcism； that order having
a private quarrel with Grandier？ It must be admitted that this way
of looking at the case was not wanting in shrewdness。
On the following day； October 12th； the bailiff and the civil
lieutenant； having heard that exorcisms had been again tried without
their having been informed beforehand； requested a certain Canon
Rousseau to accompany them； and set out with him and their clerk for
the convent。 On arriving； they asked for Mignon； and on his
appearance they told him that this matter of exorcism was of such
importance that no further steps were to be taken in it without the
authorities being present； and that in future they were to be given
timely notice of every attempt to get rid of the evil spirits。 They
added that this was all the more necessary as Mignon's position as
director of the sisterhood and his well…known hate for Grandier would
draw suspicions on him unworthy of his cloth； suspicions which he
ought to be the first to wish to see dissipated； and that quickly；
and that； therefore； the work which he had so piously begun would be
completed by exorcists appointed by the court。
Mignon replied that； though he had not the slightest objection to the
magistrates being present at all the exorcisms； yet he could not
promise that the spirits would reply to anyone except himself and
Barre。 Just at that moment Barre came on the scene； paler and more
gloomy than ever； and speaking with the air of a man whose word no
one could help believing； he announced that before their arrival some
most extraordinary things had taken place。 The magistrates asked
what things； and Barre replied that he had learned from the mother
superior that she was possessed； not by one； but by seven devils； of
whom Ashtaroth was the chief； that Grandier had entrusted his pact
with the devil； under the symbol of a bunch of roses； to a certain
Jean Pivart； to give to a girl who had introduced it into the convent
garden by throwing it over the wall； that this took place in the
night between Saturday and Sunday 〃hora secunda nocturna〃 （two hours
after midnight）； that those were the very words the superior had
used； but that while she readily named Pivart； she absolutely refused
to give the name of the girl； that on asking what Pivart was； she had
replied； 〃Pauper magus〃 （a poor magician）； that he then had pressed
her as to the word magus； and that she had replied 〃Magicianus et
civis〃 （magician and citizen）； and that just as she said those words
the magistrates had arrived； and he had asked no more questions。
The two officials listened to this information with the seriousness
befitting men entrusted with high judicial functions； and announced
to the two priests that they proposed to visit the possessed women
and witness for themselves the miracles that were taking place。 The
clerics offered no opposition； but said they feared that the devils
were fatigued and would refuse to reply； and； in fact； when the
officials reached the sickroom the two patients appeared to have
regained some degree of calm。 Mignon took advantage of this quiet
moment to say mass； to which the two magistrates listened devoutly
and tranquilly； and while the sacrifice was being offered the demons
did not dare to move。 It was expected that they would offer some
opposition at the elevation of the Host； but everything passed off
without disturbance； only the lay sister's hands and feet twitched a
great deal； and this was the only fact which the magistrates thought
worthy of mention in their report for that morning。 Barre assured
them； however； that if they would return about three o'clock the
devils would probably have recovered sufficiently from their fatigue
to give a second performance。
As the two gentlemen had determined to see the affair to the end；
they returned to the convent at the hour named； accompanied by
Messire Irenee de Sainte…Marthe； sieur Deshurneaux； and found the
room in which the possessed were lying full of curious spectators；
for the exorcists had been true prophetsthe devils were at work
again。
The superior； as always； was the more tormented of the two； as was
only to be expected； she having seven devils in her all at once； she
was terribly convulsed； and was writhing and foaming at the mouth as
if she were mad。 No one could long continue in such a condition
without serious injury to health； Barre therefore asked the devil…in…
chief how soon he would come out。 〃Cras mane〃 （To…morrow morning）；
he replied。 The exorcist then tried to hurry him； asking him why he
would not come out at once； whereupon the superior murmured the word
〃Pactum〃 （A pact）； and then 〃Sacerdos〃 （A priest）； and finally
〃Finis；〃 or 〃Finit；〃 for even those nearest could not catch the word
distinctly；