t the Ursuline
church, and from there to proceed to the square of Sainte-Croix. On the
way Urbain met and recognised Moussant, who was accompanied by his wife,
and turning towards him, said--

"I die your debtor, and if I have ever said a word that could offend you
I ask you to forgive me."

When the place of execution was reached, the provost's lieutenant
approached Grandier and asked his forgiveness.

"You have not offended me," was the reply; "you have only done what your
duty obliged you to do."

The executioner then came forward and removed the back board of the cart,
and ordered his assistants to carry Grandier to where the pile was
prepared. As he was unable to stand, he was attached to the stake by an
iron hoop passed round his body. At that moment a flock of pigeons
seemed to fall from the sky, and, fearless of the crowd, which was so
great that the archers could not succeed even by blows of their weapons
in clearing a way for the magistrates, began to fly around Grandier,
while one, as white as the driven snow, alighted on the summit of the
stake, just above his head. Those who believed in possession exclaimed
that they were only a band of devils come to seek their master, but there
were many who muttered that devils were not wont to assume such a form,
and who persisted in believing that the doves had come in default of men
to bear witness to Grandier's innocence.

In trying next day to combat this impression, a monk asserted that he had
seen a huge fly buzzing round Grandier's head, and as Beelzebub meant in
Hebrew, as he said, the god of flies, it was quite evident that it was
that demon himself who, taking upon him the form of one of his subjects,
had come to carry off the magician's soul.

When everything was prepared, the executioner passed the rope by which he
meant to strangle him round Grandier's neck; then the priests exorcised
the earth, air, and wood, and again demanded of their victim if he would
not publicly confess his crimes. Urbain replied that he had nothing to
say, but that he hoped through the martyr's death he was about to die to
be that day with Christ in Paradise.

The clerk then read his sentence to him for the fourth time, and asked if
he persisted in what he said under torture.

"Most certainly I do," said Urbain; "for it was the exact truth."

Upon this, the clerk withdrew, first informing Grandier that if he had
anything to say to the people he was at liberty to speak