Volume I Part 5 (2/2)
She turned her head towards the wall and did not answer me, but the day passed off without any ht I had cured her, but on the following day the frenzy went up to the brain, and in her delirium she pronounced at rando, and then no doubt whatever was entertained of her being possessed of the evil spirit Her mother went out and returned soon, accompanied by the most renowned exorcist of Padua, a very ill-featured Capuchin, called Friar Prospero da Bovolenta
The hter, and addressed to hihted everybody, as the devil alone could be bold enough to address a Capuchin in such ahinora Bettina with a heavy crucifix, saying that he was beating the devil He stopped only when he saw her on the point of hurling at him the chamber utensil which she had just seized ”If it is the devil who has offended thee with his words,”
she said, ”resent the insult ords likewise, jackass that thou art, but if I have offended thee myself, learn, stupid booby, that thou must respect me, and be off at once”
I could see poor Doctor Gozzi blushi+ng; the friar, however, held his ground, and, aran to read a terrible exorcism, at the end of which he commanded the devil to state his name
”My name is Bettina”
”It cannot be, for it is the nairl”
”Then thou art of opinion that a devil norant friar, that a devil is a spirit, and does not belong to either sex But as thou believest that a devil is speaking to thee through e to give way before thy incantations”
”Very well, I agree to this”
”Tell reater than mine?”
”No, but I believe myself more powerful in the name of the holy Trinity, and by my sacred character”
”If thou artthee unpalatable truths Thou art very vain of thy beard, thou art co it ten tiet me out of this body Cut off thy beard, and I promise to come out”
”Father of lies, I will increase thy punishment a hundred fold”
”I dare thee to do it”
After saying these words, Bettina broke into such a loud peal of laughter, that I could not refrain fro towards Doctor Gozzi, told hiht to leave the roohtly I was not yet out of the room when the friar offered his hand to Bettina for her to kiss, and I had the pleasure of seeing her spit upon it
This strange girl, full of extraordinary talent,any surprise to anyone, as all her ansere attributed to the devil I could not conceive what her purpose was in playing such a part
The Capuchin dined with us, and during the ood deal of nonsense After dinner, he returned to Bettina's cha her, but as soon as she caught sight of hilass full of some black mixture sent fro close by the friar, caood share of the liquid-an accident which afforded ht to i she did was, of course, put to the account of the unfortunate devil Not overmuch pleased, Friar Prospero, as he left the house, told the doctor that there was no doubt of the girl being possessed, but that another exorcist must be sent for, since he had not, hirace to eject the evil spirit
After he had gone, Bettina kept very calreat surprise, she joined us at the supper table She told her parents that she felt quite well, spoke to her brother, and then, addressingplace on theto dress irl's I thanked her, and said that, as she had been so ill, she ought to nurse herself She soon retired to bed, and we re of her
When I was undressing for the night, I took up ht-cap, and found in it a small note with these words: ”You irl, or I will give you a sight which will cause you to weep”
I waited until the doctor was asleep, and I wrote the following answer: ”I cannot go to the ball, because I have fullyalone with you As for the painful sight hich you threaten to entertainyour word, but I entreat you to spare iven you, dear Bettina, and I wish to forget everything I enclose a note which you ain in your possession You see what risk you were running when you left it in your pocket This restitution must convince you of my friendshi+p”
CHAPTER III
Bettina Is Supposed to Go Mad--Father Mancia--The Small-pox-- I Leave Padua
Bettinainto whose hands her letter had fallen; to return it to her and thus to allay her anxiety, was therefore a great proof of friendshi+p; but enerosity, 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