God showed him that this phenomenon was of infernal origin, and it then ceased.
"And I recollect a singular anecdote told by Quercetanus concerning a mistress of Charlemagne's who died.

The king, who worshipped her, could not bear to have her body interred, though it was decomposing, exhaling, however, a perfume of violets and roses.

The body was examined, and in its mouth a ring was found, which was removed.

The demoniacal enchantment forthwith ceased, the body became foul, and Charlemagne allowed it to be buried.
"We may add to this diabolical odour of seduction another, which is, on the contrary, fetid, and is used to annoy the believer, to hinder him in prayer, to estrange him from his fellows, and drive him, if possible, to despair; still, this smell with which the devil infects a being may be included in the category of the smells of temptation--not, indeed, to pride, but to weakness and fear.
"Meanwhile, I have something else for you," said the Abbe, addressing Durtal.

"Here are the titles I have collected for you of some works on the symbolical animals of the Middle Ages.