The childhood of this predestined being was attended by circumstances quite extraordinary in our climate.

For nine years our winters were milder and our summers longer than usual.

This phenomenon gave rise to several discussions among scientific men; but none of their explanations seemed sufficient to academicians, and the baron smiled when I told him of them.

The child was never seen in its nudity as other children are; it was never touched by man or woman, but lived a sacred thing upon the mother's breast, and it never cried.

If you question old David he will confirm these facts about his mistress, for whom he feels an adoration like that of Louis IX.