It wriggles and creeps in without a sound, and clutches me without my having heard its approach! "And the good Abbe answers: 'Be watchful and pray;' well, I am more than willing, but the remedy is ineffectual, for aridity and outside influences deprive it of its efficacy! "As for outside suggestions--they never seem to come to me but in prayer.

It is enough that I kneel down and try to collect my thoughts, they are at once dissipated.

The mere purpose of prayer is like a stone flung into a pool; everything is stirred up and comes to the top! "And people who have not habits of religious practice fancy that there is nothing easier than prayer.

I should like to see them try.

They could then bear witness that profane imaginings, which leave them in peace at all other times, always surge up unexpectedly, during prayer.
"Besides, what use is therein disputing the fact?
Merely looking at a sleeping vice is enough to wake it." And his thoughts went back to that warm crypt.