Cordiani, who felt uneasy, came to inquire from me what my intentions were, but I rushed towards him with an open penknife in my hand, and he beat a hasty retreat.

I had entirely abandoned the idea of relating the night's scandalous adventure to the doctor, for such a project I could only entertain in a moment of excitement and rage.

The next day the mother came in while we were at our lesson, and told the doctor, after a lengthened preamble, that she had discovered the character of her daughter's illness; that it was caused by a spell thrown over her by a witch, and that she knew the witch well.
"It may be, my dear mother, but we must be careful not to make a mistake.
Who is the witch ?" "Our old servant, and I have just had a proof of it." "How so ?" "I have barred the door of my room with two broomsticks placed in the shape of a cross, which she must have undone to go in; but when she saw them she drew back, and she went round by the other door.

It is evident that, were she not a witch, she would not be afraid of touching them." "It is not complete evidence, dear mother; send the woman to me." The servant made her appearance.
"Why," said the doctor, "did you not enter my mother's room this morning through the usual door ?" "I do not know what you mean." "Did you not see the St.Andrew's cross on the door ?" "What cross is that ?" "It is useless to plead ignorance," said the mother; "where did you sleep last Thursday night ?" "At my niece's, who had just been confined." "Nothing of the sort.

You were at the witches' Sabbath; you are a witch, and have bewitched my daughter." The poor woman, indignant at such an accusation, spits at her mistress's face; the mistress, enraged, gets hold of a stick to give the servant a drubbing; the doctor endeavours to keep his mother back, but he is compelled to let her loose and to run after the servant, who was hurrying down the stairs, screaming and howling in order to rouse the neighbours; he catches her, and finally succeeds in pacifying her with some money.
After this comical but rather scandalous exhibition, the doctor donned his vestments for the purpose of exorcising his sister and of ascertaining whether she was truly possessed of an unclean spirit.