“You have come here to little purpose, good friend,” said his host, “and yet there are some sights which will repay you. You can see the cage in which the prisoner was fastened, and the tower in which she is still confined.” “Is no one allowed to enter the tower? I would be satisfied if I could see her even from a distance.” “Why, what are you thinking of? No one should be allowed to see her, for she has intercourse with evil spirits! How easy it would be for one of those spirits to assume the appearance of a peasant and join a crowd of curious people, just as if it were one of them! Now the prison door opens! Hush! the spirit gets in there! and ps-t—they are gone. Do you see? That is the way with witches.” “Is that so?” “Oh, yes! My grandmother, blessed—” At this instant the loquacious host was called out. When he returned he had forgotten his story in his eagerness to make an announcement to his guest. “You are a very lucky man,” he said, beaming with delight. “How so?” replied Jean. “Why, look you! I thought I was too when I heard the news. I am perfectly delighted that you did not lodge with that pitiful fellow, Loup. Between ourselves, I can’t endure that man. He has recently—but I will tell you about that another time. What was I saying? Oh, yes! Look, there comes my cousin, the dear, good woman! You cannot imagine how pious she is. His reverence, the Bishop, could tell you. Why, he has even taken her confessions many a time himself!” “Yes, but what does all this mean?” “Why, it means good news. I have stolen away to tell you, for it is still a secret, and my cousin has promised his reverence not to breathe a word of it to any one, and she first told Charlotte—” “But what is this secret?” “Well, what do you think? The witch has actually had intercourse with evil spirits in the prison!” “Ah! How do you know that?” “How? My cousin could tell you exactly. Let me see, how was it? Oh, yes; I have it. The witch had promised to renounce all her hellish practices and wear women’s clothes. So they were brought into the prison; but notwithstanding that she was found the next morning with men’s clothes on again. There you have it.” “But why do you conclude from that that she has intercourse with evil spirits?” “Why? Do you still doubt? Holy Ursula! his reverence says so. My cousin, the good woman, she could tell you all about it; but she has gone just now to mass.” “But you were going to tell me some good news.” “Oh, yes; I had nearly forgotten it. It is this. As the witch has resumed her intercourse with the evil spirits, she will have to be tried again.” “Well, of what interest is that to me?” “Of what interest is it to you? Holy Ursula! Is it not of the greatest interest to you that you have not come here in vain? When they sentence the witch again, she will stand upon a high platform, as she did the first time, and you will see her just as easily as you see me now.” “So! That is nice. But when will it be?”