ch I did not understand. He propounded
several questions. The Lord inspired me to answer him in such a manner,
that he went away both surprised and satisfied. He could not forbear
speaking of it.

The Barnabites of Paris, or rather Father de la Mothe took it in head
to try to draw Father La Combe to go and preach at Paris. He wrote to
the Father-general about it, because they had no one at Paris to
support their house, that their church was deserted; that it was a pity
to leave such a man as Father La Combe in a place where he only
corrupted his language. It was necessary to make his fine talents
appear at Paris, where he himself could not bear the burden of the
house, if they did not give him an assistant of such qualifications and
experience. Who would not have thought all this to be sincere? The
Bishop of Verceil, who was very much a friend of Father-general, having
advice thereof, opposed it, and answered that it would be doing him the
greatest injury to take from him a man who was so exceedingly useful to
him, and at a time when he had the greatest need of him.

The Father-general of the Barnabites would not agree to the request of
Father de la Mothe, for fear of offending the Bishop of Verceil. As to
me, my indisposition increased. The air, which is there extremely bad,
caused me a continual cough, with frequent returns of fever. I grew so
much worse that it was thought I could not get over it. The Bishop was
afflicted to see it, but, having consulted the physicians, they assured
him that the air of the place was mortal to me, whereupon he said to
me, "I had rather have you live, though distant from me, than see you
die here." He gave up his design of establishing his congregation, for
my friend would not settle there without me. The Genoese lady could not
easily leave her own city, where she was respected. The Genoese
besought her to set up there what the Bishop of Verceil had wanted her
to set up. It was a congregation almost like that of Madame de
Miramion. When the Bishop had first proposed this, however agreeable it
appeared, I had a presentiment that it would not succeed, and that it
was not what our Lord required of me, though I submissively yielded to
the good proposal, were it only to acknowledge the many special favours
of this prelate. I was assured that the Lord would know well how to
prevent what He should now require of me. As this good prelate saw he
must resign himself to let me go, he said to me,