They were of both sexes and included an old man and a woman with a tall and handsome figure, who appeared to be quite young, scarcely more than a girl indeed.

These seven were ranged in a line where they stood, clearly in great fear, for the old man fell upon his knees and one of the women began to sob.

Thus they were left awhile, perhaps to allow the fire behind them to burn up, which it soon did with great fierceness, throwing a vivid light upon every detail of the spectacle.
Now all was ready, and a man brought a wooden tray to the red-bearded priest, who was seated on a stool, the white cat upon his knees, whither we had seen it leap from his head a little while before.

He took the tray by its handles and at a word from him the cat jumped on to it and sat there.

Then amidst the most intense silence he rose and uttered some prayer, apparently to the cat, which sat facing him.