tion.

Monsieur Charon the Official, and a Doctor of Sorbonne, came four times
to examine me. Our Lord did me the favor which He promised to His
apostles, to make me answer much better than if I had studied. Luke
21:14, 15. They said to me, if I had explained myself, as I now did, in
the book entitled, Short and Easy Method of Prayer, I would not now
have been here. My last examination was about a counterfeit letter,
which they read and let me see. I told them the hand was no way like
mine. They said it was only a copy; they had the original at home. I
desired a sight of it, but could not obtain it. I told them I never
wrote it, nor did I know the person to whom it was addressed; but they
took scarcely any notice of what I said.

After this letter was read, the official turned to me and said, "You
see, madam, that after such a letter there was foundation enough for
imprisoning you." "Yes, sir," said I, "if I had written it." I showed
them its falsehoods and inconsistencies, but all in vain. I was left
two months, and treated worse and worse, before either of them came
again to see me. Till then I had always some hope that, seeing my
innocence, they would do me justice; but now I saw that they did not
want to find me innocent, but to make me appear guilty.

The official alone came the next time, and told me, "I must speak no
more of the false letter; that it was nothing." "How nothing," said I,
"to counterfeit a person's writing, and to make one appear an enemy to
the State!" He replied, "We will seek out the author of it." "The
author," said I, "is no other than the Scrivener Gautier." He then
demanded where the papers were which I wrote on the Scriptures. I told
him, "I would give them up when I should be out of prison; but was not
willing to tell with whom I had lodged them."

About three or four days before Easter he came again, with the doctor,
and a verbal process was drawn up against me for rebelling, in not
giving up papers. Copies of my writings were then put into their hands;
for I had not the originals. I know not where those who got them from
me have put them; but I am firm in the faith that they will all be
preserved, in spite of the storm. The prioress asked the official how
my affair went. He said, very well, and that I should soon be
discharged; this became the common talk; but I had a presentiment of
the contrary.

I had an inexpressible satisfaction and joy in suffering, and being a
prisoner. The