The demon alone has a claim to her." The sorcerer ended; sparks of fire surrounded him, and after turning four times round in a circle he suddenly disappeared! Franconnette's friends at once held aloof from her.

They called out to her, "Begone!" All in a maze the girl shuddered and sickened; she became senseless, and fell down on the floor in a swoon.

The young people fled, leaving her helpless.

And thus ended the second fete which began so gaily.
The grossest superstition then prevailed in France, as everywhere.
Witches and warlocks were thoroughly believed in, far more so than belief in God and His Son.

The news spread abroad that the girl was accursed and sold to the Evil One, and she was avoided by everybody.