But，ingeneral，housesthathaveacquiredthischaracter，havebeenmoreindebtedforit，totherogueryoflivingmen，thantoaccidentslikethese。SixmonksplayedoffaclevertrickofthekinduponthatworthyKing，Louis，whosepietyhasprocuredhim，intheannalsofhisowncountry，thedesignationof“theSaint。“HavingheardhisconfessorspeakintermsofwarmeulogyofthegoodnessandlearningofthemonksoftheorderofSaintBruno，heexpressedhiswishtoestablishacommunityofthemnearParis。BernarddelaTour，thesuperior，sentsixofthebrethren，andtheKinggavethemahandsomehousetolivein，inthevillageofChantilly。Itsohappenedthat，fromtheirwindows，theyhadaveryfineviewoftheancientpalaceofVauvert，whichhadbeenbuiltforaroyalresidencebyKingRobert，butdesertedformanyyears。Theworthymonksthoughtthepalacewouldjustsuitthem，buttheirmodestywassoexcessivethattheywereashamedtoasktheKingforagrantofitindueform。Thisdifficultywasnottobeovercome，andthemonkssettheiringenuitytoworktodiscoveranotherplan。ThepalaceofVauverthadneverlabouredunderanyimputationuponitscharacteruntiltheybecameitsneighbours；but，somehoworother，italmostimmediatelyafterwardsbegantoacquireabadname。Frightfulshriekswereheardtoproceedfromitatnight——blue，red，andgreenlightsweresuddenlyobservedtoglimmerfromthewindows，andassuddenlytodisappear:theclankingofchainswasheard，andthehowlingasofpersonsingreatpain。Thesedisturbancescontinuedforseveralmonths，tothegreatterrorofallthecountryround，andevenofthepiousKingLouis，towhom，atParis，alltherumourswereregularlycarried，withwholeheapsofadditions，thataccumulatedontheway。Atlastagreatspectre，clothedallinpea-green，withalongwhitebeardandaserpent’stail，tookhisstationregularlyatmidnightintheprincipalwindowofthepalace，andhowledfearfullyandshookhisfistsatthepassengers。ThesixmonksofChantilly，towhomallthesethingsweredulynarrated，wereexceedinglywroththatthedevilshouldplaysuchanticsrightoppositetheirdwelling，andhintedtothecommissioners，sentdownbySaintLouistoinvestigatethematter，that，iftheywereallowedtoinhabitthepalace，theywouldverysoonmakeaclearanceoftheevilspirits。TheKingwasquitecharmedwiththeirpiety，andexpressedtothemhowgratefulhefeltfortheirdisinterestedness。Adeedwasforthwithdrawnup——theroyalsign-manualwasaffixedtoit，andthepalaceofVauvertbecamethepropertyofthemonksofSaintBruno。Thedeedisdatedin1259。

　　[Garinet。HistoiredelaMagieenFrance，page75。]Thedisturbancesceasedimmediately——thelightsdisappeared，andthegreenghostsosaidthemonkswaslaidatrestforeverunderthewavesoftheRedSea。

　　Intheyear1580，oneGillesBlacrehadtakentheleaseofahouseinthesuburbsofTours，butrepentinghimofhisbargainwiththelandlord，PeterPiquet，heendeavouredtoprevailuponhimtocanceltheagreement。Peter，however，wassatisfiedwithhistenantandhisterms，andwouldlistentonocompromise。Veryshortlyafterwards，therumourwasspreadalloverToursthatthehouseofGillesBlacrewashaunted。GilleshimselfassertedthatheverilybelievedhishousetobethegeneralrendezvousofallthewitchesandevilspiritsofFrance。Thenoisetheymadewasawful，andquitepreventedhimfromsleeping。Theyknockedagainstthewall——howledinthechimneys——

　　brokehiswindow-glass——scatteredhispotsandpansalloverhiskitchen，andsethischairsandtablesadancingthewholenightthrough。Crowdsofpersonsassembledaroundthehousetohearthemysteriousnoises；andthebrickswereobservedtodetachthemselvesfromthewallandfallintothestreetsupontheheadsofthosewhohadnotsaidtheirpaternosterbeforetheycameoutinthemorning。

　　Thesethingshavingcontinuedforsometime，GillesBlacremadehiscomplainttotheCivilCourtofTours，andPeterPiquetwassummonedtoshowcausewhytheleaseshouldnotbeannulled。PoorPetercouldmakenodefence，andthecourtunanimouslyagreedthatnoleasecouldholdgoodundersuchcircumstances，andannulleditaccordingly，condemningtheunluckyownertoalltheexpensesofthesuit。PeterappealedtotheParliamentofParis；and，afteralongexamination，theParliamentconfirmedthelease。“Not，“saidthejudge，“becauseitbasnotbeenfullyandsatisfactorilyprovedthatthehouseistroubledbyevilspirits，butthattherewasaninformalityintheproceedingsbeforetheCivilCourtofTours，thatrendereditsdecisionnullandofnoeffect。“

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