wing spring all the evil spirit's lands were covered with
golden wheat, oats as big as beans, flax, magnificent colza, red
clover, peas, cabbage, artichokes, everything that develops into
grains or fruit in the sunlight.

Once more Satan received nothing, and this time he completely lost his
temper. He took back his fields and remained deaf to all the fresh
propositions of his neighbour.

A whole year rolled by. From the top of his lonely manor Saint Michael
looked at the distant and fertile lands and watched the devil direct
the work, take in his crops and thresh the wheat. And he grew angry,
exasperated at his powerlessness. As he was no longer able to deceive
Satan, he decided to wreak vengeance on him, and he went out to invite
him to dinner for the following Monday.

"You have been very unfortunate in your dealings with me," he said; "I
know it, but I don't want any ill feeling between us, and I expect you
to dine with me. I'll give you some good things to eat."

Satan, who was as greedy as he was lazy, accepted eagerly. On the day
appointed he donned his finest clothes and set out for the castle.

Saint Michael sat him down to a magnificent meal. First there was a
_vol-au-vent_, full of cocks' crests and kidneys, with meat-balls,
then two big grey mullet with cream sauce, a turkey stuffed with
chestnuts soaked in wine, some salt-marsh lamb as tender as cake,
vegetables which melted in the mouth and nice hot pancake which was
brought on smoking and spreading a delicious odour of butter.

They drank new, sweet, sparkling cider and heady red wine, and after
each course they whetted their appetites with some old apple brandy.

The devil drank and ate to his heart's content; in fact he took so
much that he was very uncomfortable, and began to retch.

Then Saint Michael arose in anger and cried in a voice like thunder:
"What! before me, rascal! You dare--before me--"

Satan, terrified, ran away, and the saint, seizing a stick, pursued
him. They ran through the halls, turning round the pillars, running up
the staircases, galloping along the cornices, jumping from gargoyle
to gargoyle. The poor devil, who was woefully ill, was running about
madly and trying hard to escape. At last he found himself at the top
of the last terrace, right at the top, from which could be seen the
immense bay, with its distant towns, sands and pastures. He could no
longer escape, and the saint came up behind him and gave him a furious