The crowd surged round the invalids, and groans were heard.

Anxious questions were asked, rumours were carried up through the two streams of people, to the very end of the procession, where the cause of those groans was not understood, and all, eager to see, were struggling downwards.

Perhaps the sufferers had become worse, there in the blazing sun.

Three students slid down among the women, and were received with grunts and imprecations.

Now a woman of the town has spoken: "Take the poor creatures inside." Yes, yes! Inside, inside! Into the Saint's house! The crowd already expects a miracle from the walls between which he dwells, from the floor his foot presses, from all these objects saturated with his holiness.