confusion and cast upon me the ignominy of his punishment. It seemed
he suffered more pain than I, but I more reproaches than he. This
surprised me the more, because, having seen him only once, I could
not imagine what it meant. But I have indeed seen it accomplished.
At the same time I saw him thus fixed to the cross, these words were
impressed on me: "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be
scattered"; and these others, "I have specially prayed for thee,
Peter, that thy faith shall fail not--Satan has desired to sift
thee."

Up to that time the Bishop of Geneva had shown me much esteem and
kindness, and therefore this man cleverly took him off his guard. He
urged upon the prelate that, in order to make certain of me for that
House, he ought to compel me to give up to it the little money I had
reserved for myself, and to bind me by making me Superior. He knew
well that I would never bind myself there, and that, my vocation
being elsewhere, I could never give my capital to that House, where
I had come only as a visitor; and that I would not be Superior, as I
had many times already declared; and that even should I bind myself,
it would only be on the condition that this should not be. I
believe, indeed, that this objection to be Superior was a remnant of
the selfhood, colored with humility. The Bishop of Geneva did not in
the least penetrate the intentions of that ecclesiastic, who was
called in the country the little Bishop, because of the ascendancy
he had acquired over the mind of the Bishop of Geneva. He thought it
was through affection for me, and zeal for this House, that this man
desired to bind me to it; consequently, he at once fell in with the
proposal, resolving to carry it through at whatever price.

The ecclesiastic, seeing he had so well succeeded, no longer kept
any bonds as regarded me. He commenced by stopping the letters I
wrote to Father La Combe.

Father La Combe none the less went to Annecy, where he found the
Bishop much prejudiced and embittered.

He said to him, "My Father, it is absolutely necessary to bind that
lady to give what she has to the House of Gex, and to become the
Superior."

"My Lord," answered Father La Combe, "you know what she has herself
told you of her vocation both at Paris and in this country, and
therefore I do