tly, as the devil, afraid
doubtless of perpetrating a barbarism, spoke through the nun's closely
clenched teeth. This being all decidedly unsatisfying, the magistrates
insisted that the examination should continue, but the devils had again
exhausted themselves, and refused to utter another word. The priest even
tried touching the superior's head with the pyx, while prayers and
litanies were recited, but it was all in vain, except that some of the
spectators thought that the contortions of the patient became more
violent when the intercessions of certain saints were invoked, as for
instance Saints Augustine Jerome, Antony, and Mary Magdalene. Barre next
directed the mother superior to dedicate her heart and soul to God, which
she did without difficulty; but when he commanded her to dedicate her
body also, the chief devil indicated by fresh convulsions that he was not
going to allow himself to be deprived of a domicile without resistance,
and made those who had heard him say that he would leave the next morning
feel that he had only said so under compulsion; and their curiosity as to
the result became heightened. At length, however, despite the obstinate
resistance of the demon, the superior succeeded in dedicating her body
also to God, and thus victorious her features resumed their usual
expression, and smiling as if nothing had happened, she turned to Barre
and said that there was no vestige of Satan left in her. The civil
lieutenant then asked her if she remembered the questions she had been
asked and the answers she had given, but she replied that she remembered
nothing; but afterwards, having taken some refreshment, she said to those
around her that she recollected perfectly how the first possession, over
which Mignon had triumphed, had taken place: one evening about ten
o'clock, while several nuns were still in her room, although she was
already in bed, it seemed to her that someone took her hand and laid
something in it, closing her fingers; at that instant she felt a sharp
pain as if she had been pricked by three pins, and hearing her scream,
the nuns came to her bedside to ask what ailed her. She held out her
hand, and they found three black thorns sticking in it, each having made
a tiny wound. Just as she had told this tale, the lay sister, as if to
prevent all commentary, was seized with convulsions, and Barre
recommenced his prayers and exorcisms, but was soon interrupted by
shrieks; for one of the person