rd that I
had been sought for, and I now present myself." During the
conversation he asked the Inquisitor to terminate the matter speedily.
He had determined to begin his course in arts on the approaching feast
of St. Remigius, and therefore wished all other business completed in
order to apply himself to his studies with greater profit. The
Inquisitor on his part told him that it was true that certain charges
had been made against him, but he allowed him to depart, and did not
summon him again.

Toward the first of October, the feast of St. Remigius, he began his
course under the preceptor Master John Pegna, with the intention of
fostering the vocations of those who wished to serve God. He intended
to add others in order the more freely to give his mind to his
studies. He followed the lectures in philosophy, and experienced the
same temptations with which he had been assailed when studying grammar
at Barcelona. During the lectures he was troubled by so many spiritual
thoughts that he could not listen attentively. Accordingly, as he saw
he was making but little progress in his studies, he spoke to his
preceptor and promised to attend the lectures, as long as he could
find bread and water enough to keep him alive. After making this
promise, all these untimely devotions ceased to disturb him, and he
quietly pursued his studies. He was at this period a friend of Peter
Faber and Francis Xavier, whom he afterward led to the service of God
by giving them the Exercises. During the last years he was not
persecuted as at first. Speaking of this to him one day, Doctor
Fragus remarked that he was surprised that no one molested him.
Ignatius replied: "This is owing to the fact that I do not speak on
religious topics. But when the course is completed, we shall act as
formerly."

During the course of this conversation a monk approached Doctor Fragus
and begged his aid in visiting a house, in which there were many
corpses of those whom he thought died of the plague. At that time the
plague was beginning to spread in Paris. Doctor Fragus and Ignatius
wished to visit the house, and procured the aid of a woman who was
very skilful in detecting the disease. After she had entered the house
she answered that the plague was certainly there. Ignatius, also,
entered and consoled and revived a sick man he found lying there. When
he had touched the wounds with his hand, Ignatius departed alone. His
hand began to cause him great pain, and it s