furniture-in fact, to every thing and
place in the house; but nothing was found that tended to compromise him,
except an essay against the celibacy of priests, and two sheets of paper
whereon were written in another hand than his, some love-poems in the
taste of that time.

CHAPTER IX

For four months Grandier languished in prison, and, according to the
report of Michelon, commandant of Angers, and of Pierre Bacher, his
confessor, he was, during the whole period, a model of patience and
firmness, passing his days in reading good books or in writing prayers
and meditations, which were afterwards produced at his trial. Meanwhile,
in spite of the urgent appeals of Jeanne Esteye, mother of the accused,
who, although seventy years of age, seemed to recover her youthful
strength and activity in the desire to save her son, Laubardemont
continued the examination, which was finished on April 4th. Urbain was
then brought back from Angers to Loudun.

An extraordinary cell had been prepared for him in a house belonging to
Mignon, and which had formerly been occupied by a sergeant named Bontems,
once clerk to Trinquant, who had been a witness for the prosecution in
the first trial. It was on the topmost story; the windows had been
walled up, leaving only one small slit open, and even this opening was
secured by enormous iron bars; and by an exaggeration of caution the
mouth of the fireplace was furnished with a grating, lest the devils
should arrive through the chimney to free the sorcerer from his chains.
Furthermore, two holes in the corners of the room, so formed that they
were unnoticeable from within, allowed a constant watch to be kept over
Grandier's movements by Bontem's wife, a precaution by which they hoped
to learn something that would help them in the coming exorcisms. In this
room, lying on a little straw, and almost without light, Grandier wrote
the following letter to his mother:

"MY MOTHER,--I received your letter and everything you sent me except the
woollen stockings. I endure any affliction with patience, and feel more
pity for you than for myself. I am very much inconvenienced for want of
a bed; try and have mine brought to me, for my mind will give way if my
body has no rest: if you can, send me a breviary, a Bible, and a St.
Thomas for my consolation; and above all, do not grieve for me. I trust
that, God will bring my innocence to light. Commend me to my brother and
sister, and all our good f