This naturally excited the wrath of the Viscount and others.

The Seigneur d'Auberlieu, in a letter written in what the writer himself called the "gross style of a gendarme," charged the Prior with maligning honorable lords and--in the favorite colloquial phrase of the day--with attempting "to throw the cat against their legs." The real crime of the meddling priest, however, was to have let that troublesome animal out of the bag.

He was accordingly waylaid again, and thrown into prison by Count Lalain.

While in durance he published an abject apology for his apologue, explaining that his allusions to "returned prodigals," "heretic swine," and to "Sodom and Gomorrah," had been entirely misconstrued.

He was, however, retained in custody until Parma ordered his release on the ground that the punishment had been already sufficient for the offence.