virtuous she had been from her youth up, and how she had
never given a single token of worldliness, they believed and deemed her
a second Virgin Mary. She used to fast not only on the days commanded by
the Church, but, from natural devotion, several times a week also; and
she never stirred from the church whenever there was a service going on
there. For these reasons she was held in such great repute among all the
vulgar that every one came to see her as though she were a miracle, and
those who succeeded in touching her dress deemed themselves fortunate
indeed.

1 This tale is historical, the incidents must have occurred
between 1480 and 1490.--L.

2 Cherves-de-Cognac, now a large village of nearly 3000
inhabitants, within four miles of Cognac. The church, where
some of the incidents recorded in the tale occurred, is
still in existence. It dates from the eleventh and twelfth
centuries, and is surmounted by three cupolas.--Eu.

The priest of the parish was her brother; he was a man advanced in
years and of very austere life, and was loved and reverenced by his
parishioners, who held him for a holy man. He treated his sister
with such harshness as to keep her shut up in a house, to the great
discontent of all the people; and so greatly was the matter noised
abroad that, as I have told you, the story reached the ear of the Count.
He perceived that the people were being deceived, and, wishing to set
them right, sent a Master of Requests and an Almoner, two very worthy
men, to learn the truth. These repaired to the spot and inquired into
the matter with all possible diligence, addressing themselves for
information to the priest, who, being weary of the whole affair, begged
them to be present at an examination which he hoped to hold on the
morrow.

Early the next morning the said priest chanted mass, his sister, who was
now far gone with child, being present on her knees; and when mass was
over, the priest took the "Corpus Domini," and in presence of the whole
congregation said to his sister--

"Unhappy woman that you are, here is He who suffered death and agony for
you, and in His presence I ask you whether, as you have ever affirmed to
me, you are indeed a virgin?"

She boldly replied that she was.

"How is it possible that you can be with child and yet be still a
virgin?"

"I can give no reason," she replied, "except that the grace of the
Holy Ghost has wrought within me acc