himself and his mistress. The more absurd the reports, the more credence
did they gain, and it was not long till everyone in Loudun believed them
true, although no one was able to name the mysterious heroine of the tale
who had had the courage to contract a marriage with a priest; and
considering how small Loudun was, this was most extraordinary.

Resolute and full of courage as was Grandier, at length he could not
conceal from himself that his path lay over quicksands: he felt that
slander was secretly closing him round, and that as soon as he was well
entangled in her shiny folds, she would reveal herself by raising her
abhorred head, and that then a mortal combat between them would begin.
But it was one of his convictions that to draw back was to acknowledge
one's guilt; besides, as far as he was concerned, it was probably too
late for him to retrace his steps. He therefore went on his way, as
unyielding, as scornful, and as haughty as ever.

Among those who were supposed to be most active in spreading the slanders
relative to Urbain was a man called Duthibaut, a person of importance in
the province, who was supposed by the townspeople to hold very advanced
views, and who was a "Sir Oracle" to whom the commonplace and vulgar
turned for enlightenment. Some of this man's strictures on Grandier were
reported to the latter, especially some calumnies to which Duthibaut had
given vent at the Marquis de Bellay's; and one day, Grandier, arrayed in
priestly garments, was about to enter the church of Sainte-Croix to
assist in the service, he encountered Duthibaut at the entrance, and with
his usual haughty disdain accused him of slander. Duthibaut, who had got
into the habit of saying and doing whatever came into his head without
fear of being called to account, partly because of his wealth and partly
because of the influence he had gained over the narrow-minded, who are so
numerous in a small provincial town, and who regarded him as being much