eplied, "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 prophets--the 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 distinc