they brought in. That explains why they presented themselves at the
sacred table of different churches every day."

"And that is not the half of it! Look," said Carhaix, in his turn,
rising and taking from his bookshelf a blue brochurette. "Here is a
review, _La voix de la septaine_, dated 1843. It informs us that for
twenty-five years, at Agen, a Satanistic association regularly
celebrated black masses, and committed murder, and polluted three
thousand three hundred and twenty hosts! And Monsignor the Bishop of
Agen, who was a good and ardent prelate, never dared deny the
monstrosities committed in his diocese!"

"Yes, we can say it among ourselves," Des Hermies returned, "in the
nineteenth century the number of foul-minded abbés has been legion.
Unhappily, though the documents are certain, they are difficult to
verify, for no ecclesiastic boasts of such misdeeds. The celebrants of
Deicidal masses dissemble and declare themselves devoted to Christ. They
even affirm that they defend Him by exorcising the possessed.

"That's a good one. The 'possessed' are made so or kept so by the
priests themselves, who are thus assured of subjects and accomplices,
especially in the convents. All kinds of murderous and sadistic follies
can be covered with the antique and pious mantle of exorcism."

"Let us be just," said Carhaix. "The Satanist would not be complete if
he were not an abominable hypocrite."

"Hypocrisy and pride are perhaps the most characteristic vices of the
perverse priest," suggested Durtal.