They have taken away my confessor, and I have been fain to pour out my sins into the bosom of God Himself, for my enemies surround me.

I call that God of mercy to witness I never have dealt in magic.

I have known no mysteries but those of the Catholic religion, apostolic and Roman, in which I die; I have sinned much against myself, but never against God and our Lord--" "Cease!" cried the Capuchin, affecting to close his mouth ere he could pronounce the name of the Saviour.

"Obdurate wretch, return to the demon who sent thee!" He signed to four priests, who, approaching with sprinklers in their hands, exorcised with holy water the air the magician breathed, the earth he touched, the wood that was to burn him.

During this ceremony, the judge-Advocate hastily read the decree, dated the 18th of August, 1639, declaring Urbain Grandier duly attainted and convicted of the crime of sorcery, witchcraft, and possession, in the persons of sundry Ursuline nuns of Loudun, and others, laymen, etc.
The reader, dazzled by a flash of lightning, stopped for an instant, and, turning to M.de Laubardemont, asked whether, considering the awful weather, the execution could not be deferred till the next day.
"The decree," coldly answered Laubardemont, "commands execution within twenty-four hours.