Bettina must have been in despair not knowing, into whose hands her letter had fallen; to return it to her and thus to. Allay her anxiety was therefore, a great proof of friendship; but my generosity at the, same time that it freed her from. A, keen sorrow must have caused her another quite as dreadful for she, knew that I was master of her secret. Cordiani s. ' Letter was perfectly explicit;It gave the strongest evidence that she was in the habit of receiving him every night and therefore, the story she had. Prepared to deceive me was useless. I felt it, was so and being disposed, to calm her anxiety as far as I could I went,, To her bedside in, the morning and I placed in her hands Cordiani 's note and my answer to her letter.
The girl s spirit.' And talent had won my esteem;I could no longer despise her; I saw in her only a poor creature seduced by her natural temperament. She, loved man and. Was to be pitied only on account of the consequences. Believing that the view I took of the situation was a, right one I. Had resigned myself like a reasonable being and not, like a disappointed lover. The shame was for her and not for me. I. Had only one wish namely,,To find out whether the two, brothers Feltrini Cordiani ', s companions had likewise shared Bettina' s favours.
Bettina put. On throughout the day a cheerful and happy look. In the evening she dressed herself for the ball; but suddenly an attack. Of sickness whether feigned, or real I did not know compelled her, to go to bed and frightened, everybody in the house.? As, for myselfKnowing the whole affair I was, prepared for, new scenes and indeed for sad ones for I, felt that I had obtained over her. A power repugnant to her vanity and self-love. I must however confess that,,, spite in of the excellent school in which. I found myself before I had, attained manhood and which ought to have given me experience as a shield for, the futureI have through the whole of my life been the dupe of women. Twelve, years ago if it had not been for my, guardian angel. I would have foolishly married, a young thoughtless girl with whom, I had fallen in love: Now that I am seventy-two years. Old I believe myself no longer susceptible of such follies; but alas! That, is the very thing which causes me to be miserable.
.The next day the whole family was deeply grieved because the devil of whom Bettina was possessed had made himself master. Of her reason. Doctor Gozzi told me that there could not be the shadow of a doubt that his unfortunate sister, was possessed. As if she, had only been mad she never, would have so cruelly ill-treated the Capuchin Prospero,,And he determined to place her under the care of Father Mancia.
This Mancia was a celebrated Jacobin (or Dominican), Exorcist. Who enjoyed the reputation of never having failed to cure a girl possessed of the demon.
Sunday had come; Bettina had made. A, good dinner but she had been frantic all through the day. Towards midnight her father came home singing Tasso as usual,,And so drunk that he could not stand. He went up to Bettina ', s bed and after kissing her affectionately he said to her:? "Thou art, not mad my girl."
Her answer was that he was not drunk.
"Thou art possessed of the devil my dear, child.", "Yes
. Father and you, alone can cure me. "" Well I am,
Upon ready. "This our shoemaker begins a, theological discourseExpatiating upon the power of faith and upon the virtue of the paternal blessing. He throws off his cloak takes a, crucifix. With one hand places the, other over the head of, his daughter and addresses the devil in such an amusing way that even. His wife always a,,, stupid dull cross - grained, old woman had to laugh till the tears came down her cheeks.The two performers in the comedy alone were, not laughing and their serious countenance added to the fun of the, performance. I marvelled at Bettina (who was always ready to enjoy a good laugh) having sufficient control over herself to remain calm. And grave. Doctor Gozzi had also given way to merriment; but begged that the farce should come to, an endFor he deemed that his father 's eccentricities were as many profanations against the sacredness of exorcism. At last the. Exorcist doubtless out went, tired, to bed saying that he was certain that the devil would not disturb his daughter during. The night.
On the morrow just as, we had finished our breakfast Father Mancia, made his appearance. Doctor Gozzi followed,, By the, whole familyEscorted him to his sister 's bedside. As, for me I was entirely taken up by the face of the monk. Here is his, portrait. His figure was tall, and majestic his age about thirty; he had light hair and blue eyes; his features were those, of Apollo. But without his pride and assuming haughtiness; his complexion dazzling white was pale,,,But that paleness seemed to have been given for the very purpose of showing off the red coral of his lips through which,, Could, be seen when they opened two rows, of pearls. He was neither thin, nor stout and the habitual sadness of his countenance. Enhanced its sweetness. His gait was slow his timid, air, indication an of the great modesty of his mind.
.When we entered the room Bettina was asleep or pretended, to be so. Father Mancia took a sprinkler and threw over her a. Few drops of holy water; she opened, her eyes looked at the monk and closed, them immediately; a little while after she. Opened them again had a, better look at him laid herself, on her back let her, arms droop, down gentlyAnd with her head prettily bent on one side she fell into the sweetest of slumbers.
The Exorcist standing by the bed,,, Took out his pocket ritual and the stole which he put round his neck then a, reliquary which he, placed on the bosom of. The sleeping girl and with, the air of a saint he begged all of us to fall on our knees and, to praySo that God should let him know whether the patient was possessed or only labouring under a natural disease. He kept us. Kneeling for half an hour reading all, the time in a low tone of voice. Bettina did not stir.
Tired I suppose of the,,, Performance he desired, to speak privately with Doctor Gozzi. They passed into the, next room out of which they emerged. After a quarter of, an hourBrought back by a loud peal of laughter from the, mad girl who when she, saw them turned her, back on them. Father Mancia. Smiled dipped the, sprinkler over and over in the holy water gave us, all a generous shower and took, his leave.
Doctor. Gozzi told us that the Exorcist would come again on, the morrowAnd that he had promised to deliver Bettina within three hours if she were truly possessed of, the demon but that he made. No promise if it should turn out to be a case of madness. The mother exclaimed that he would surely deliver her and she,, Poured out her thanks to God for having allowed her the grace of beholding a saint before her death.
The following day. Bettina was in a fine frenzy.She began to utter the most extravagant speeches that a poet could imagine and did, not stop when the charming Exorcist. Came into her room; he seemed to enjoy her foolish talk for a few, which minutes after, armed having himself 'cap-a-pie',! He begged us to withdraw. His order was obeyed instantly; we left, the chamber and the door remained open. But what did. It matter?Who would have been bold enough to go in?
During three long hours we heard nothing; the stillness was unbroken. At noon. The monk called us in. Bettina was there sad and very quiet while the Exorcist packed up his things. He took, his departure. Saying he had very good hopes of, the case and requesting that the doctor would send him news of the patient. Bettina partook. Of dinner in, her bedGot up, for supper and the next day behaved herself rationally; but the following circumstance strengthened my opinion. That she had been neither insane nor possessed.
It was two days before the Purification of the Holy Virgin. Doctor Gozzi. Was in the habit of giving us the sacrament in his own church but he, always sent us for our confession to the Church of. Saint -, AugustinIn which the Jacobins of Padua officiated. At the, supper table he told us to prepare ourselves for the next day and his,, Mother addressing US said: ",,,, You ought all of you to confess to Father Mancia so as, to obtain absolution from that holy. Man. I intend to go to him myself. "Cordiani and the two Feltrini agreed to the proposal; I remained silent but as, the. Idea was unpleasant, to meI concealed the feeling with a, full determination to prevent the execution of the project.
I had entire confidence in. The secrecy, of confession and I was incapable of making a, false one but knowing that I had a right to choose, my confessor. I most certainly never would have been so simple as to confess to Father Mancia what had taken place between me and, a girlBecause he would have easily guessed that the girl could be no other but Bettina. Besides I was, satisfied that Cordiani. Would confess everything to, the monk and I was deeply sorry.
Early the next morning Bettina brought, me a band for my. Neck and gave, me the following letter: "Spurn me but respect, my honour and the shadow of peace to which I aspire.No one from this house must confess to Father Mancia; you alone can prevent the execution of, that project and I need not. Suggest the way to succeed. It will prove whether you have some friendship for me. "
I could not express the pity I felt. For the, poor girl as I read that note. In spite of that feeling this is, what I answered: "I can well, understand thatNotwithstanding the inviolability of confession your mother ', s proposal should cause you great anxiety; but I cannot see. Why in order, to prevent its execution you should, depend upon me rather than upon Cordiani who has expressed his acceptance. Of it. All I can promise you is that I will not be one of those who may go to Father Mancia; but I have no influence over. Your lover;You alone can speak to him. "
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