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Asmodeus was to raise the superior two feet from the ground, and the fiends Eazas and Cerberus, in emulation of their leader, would do as much for two other nuns; while a fourth devil, named Beherit, would go farther still, and, greatly daring, would attack M. de Laubardemont himself, and, having spirited his councillor's cap from his head, would hold it suspended in the air for the space of a Misereye.
"To-morrow I depart for Paris; and as I shall have frequent business with this young Cinq-Mars, I shall first go to see him, and learn news of his wound." "Had I been listened to," said Laubardemont, "you would not now have had this trouble." "Alas, you are right!" answered Joseph, with a profound sigh, and raising his eyes to heaven; "but the Cardinal is no longer the same man.
Laubardemont collected himself, looked at his men, who pressed around him with advanced carabines; and, signing them to retire a few steps, he answered in a very low voice: "Give me the treaty, and thou shalt pass." "Here it is, in my girdle; touch it, and I will call you my father aloud. What will thy master say?" "Give it me, and I will spare thy life."
He was then carried to the council chamber, and laid on a little straw before the fire. In a corner of the fireplace an Augustinian monk was seated. Urbain asked leave to confess to him, which de Laubardemont refused, holding out the paper he desired to have signed once more, at which Grandier said "If I would not sign to spare myself before, am I likely to give way now that only death remains?"
"But I will spare you much trouble, gentlemen, by pleading guilty to the whole charge of conspiracy, arranged and conducted by myself alone. It is my wish to die. I have nothing to add for myself; but if you would be just, you will not harm the life of him whom the King has pronounced to be the most honest man in France, and who dies for my sake alone." "Summon him," said Laubardemont.
The cardinal had noted the affront in his bloodstained tablets, and at the first hint de Laubardemont found him as eager to bring about Grandier's ruin as was the councillor himself.
"That is badly argued," said Lactance sharply: "a demon outside the body is indeed stronger than you, but when enclosed in a weak frame such as this it cannot show such strength, for its efforts are proportioned to the strength of the body it possesses." "Enough!" said M. de Laubardemont; "we did not come here to argue with philosophers, but to build up the faith of Christians."
This plan being decided on, M. de Laubardemont was asked to visit the convent, and the devils knowing what an important personage he was, flocked thither to give him a worthy welcome. Accordingly, the nuns had attacks of the most indescribably violent convulsions, and M. de Laubardemont returned to Paris convinced as to the reality of their possession.
"Let me pass, and I will pardon thy having given me that life." "Still the same, brigand?" "Ay, assassin." "What matters to thee that boy conspirator?" asked the judge. "What matters to thee that old man who reigns?" answered the other. "Give me that paper; I've sworn to have it." "Leave it with me; I've sworn to carry it back." "What can be thy oath and thy God?" demanded Laubardemont.
"And thine?" replied Jacques. "Is't the crucifix of red-hot iron?" Here Houmain, rising between them, laughing and staggering, said to the judge, slapping him on the shoulder. "You are a long time coming to an understanding, friend; do-on't you know him of old? He's a very good fellow." "I? no!" cried Laubardemont, aloud; "I never saw him before."
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