that I am! O
Heavens! what will become of me,--what will become of the nuns?

_Devil_. I have already said that it is best to commit a slight sin if,
by so doing, we prevent a great one, and you yourself have proved it by
the authority of holy Fathers; but, dear sister, courage and
understanding will be necessary, if you wish to obtain your purpose
without danger to your own soul, by loading another person with the
capital sin.

_Abbess_. Ah, dear sister, and how is that to be contrived?

_Devil_. I was once in our convent in almost a similar perplexity. The
good Sister Agatha here is my witness; and as she saw every thing, and
assisted me, we may speak out before her.

Faustus bowed with humility.

_Devil_. A nun who, by sinful wit, and yet more sinful beauty, had found
favour among the great and powerful, was, by their assistance, on the
point of rising above me. Ah! I have felt how grievous are the thoughts
of being forced to obey, after one has for a long time exercised
boundless power. Well, in the presence of Sister Agatha, I entered into
a consultation with my relation the prebend: he is very knowing in
affairs of conscience and crime, and understands to a hair's-breadth what
is damnable and what is not. This wise man gave me a piece of advice
which helped me out of my trouble, and for which I shall always have
reason to bless him. I admit that the expedient at first appeared to me
sinful; but he assured me, and proved to me out of the casuists, that a
little fasting and penance would do away with all that was culpable in
it.

_Abbess_. But the advice--the advice!

_Devil_. I am ashamed to tell it you aloud.

_Abbess_. Then whisper it into my ear. What the Abbess of the Black
Nuns could do without endangering her salvation, the Abbess of the White
Nuns may do also.

_Devil_ (_softly into her ear_). He advised me to contrive so that this
dangerous nun should commit the sin of * * *

_Abbess_ (_crossing herself_). Blessed Ursula! Why, that is the work of
the Devil, and leads directly to hell.

_Devil_. Ay, very true, but only the person who commits it; and I was
not advising you to do it. Remember, dear sister, you are not to be
punished for all the sins which your nuns may choose to commit.

_Abbess_. But, in Heaven's name, how did you manage this dangerous
affair without being discovered?

_Devil_. Oh, my situation was much more difficult than yours, for you
are assisted by t