Prelatiatlastpersuadedhimtowaitseventimessevendays。Theythenwentatmidnightwithpicksandshovelstodigupthegroundundertheoak，wheretheyfoundnothingtorewardthembutagreatquantityofslates，markedwithhieroglyphics。ItwasnowPrelati’sturntobeangry；andheloudlysworethatthedevilwasnothingbutaliarandacheat。TheMarshaljoinedcordiallyintheopinion，butwaseasilypersuadedbythecunningItaliantomakeonemoretrial。Hepromisedatthesametimethathewouldendeavour，onthefollowingnight，todiscoverthereasonwhythedevilhadbrokenhisword。Hewentoutaloneaccordingly，andonhisreturninformedhispatronthathehadseenBarron，whowasexceedinglyangrythattheyhadnotwaitedthepropertimeeretheylookedfortheingots。Barronhadalsosaid，thattheMarechaldeRayscouldhardlyexpectanyfavoursfromhim，atatimewhenhemustknowthathehadbeenmeditatingapilgrimagetotheHolyLand，tomakeatonementforhissins。TheItalianhaddoubtlesssurmisedthis，fromsomeincautiousexpressionofhispatron，forDeRaysfranklyconfessedthatthereweretimeswhen，sickoftheworldandallitspompsandvanities，hethoughtofdevotinghimselftotheserviceofGod。

　　InthismannertheItalianluredonfrommonthtomonthhiscredulousandguiltypatron，extractingfromhimallthevaluableshepossessed，andonlywaitingafavourableopportunitytodecampwithhisplunder。Butthedayofretributionwasathandforboth。Younggirlsandboyscontinuedtodisappearinthemostmysteriousmanner；

　　andtherumoursagainsttheownerofChamptocegrewsoloudanddistinct，thattheChurchwascompelledtointerfere。RepresentationsweremadebytheBishopofNantestotheDukeofBrittany，thatitwouldbeapublicscandaliftheaccusationsagainsttheMarechaldeRayswerenotinquiredinto。Hewasarrestedaccordinglyinhisowncastle，alongwithhisaccomplicePrelati，andthrownintoadungeonatNantestoawaithistrial。

　　ThejudgesappointedtotryhimweretheBishopofNantesChancellorofBrittany，theVicaroftheInquisitioninFrance，andthecelebratedPierrel’Hopital，thePresidentoftheProvincialParliament。Theoffenceslaidtohischargeweresorcery，sodomy，andmurder。Gilles，onthefirstdayofhistrial，conductedhimselfwiththeutmostinsolence。Hebravedthejudgesonthejudgmentseat，callingthemsimoniacsandpersonsofimpurelife，andsaidhewouldratherbehangedbythenecklikeadogwithouttrial，thanpleadeitherguiltyornotguiltytosuchcontemptiblemiscreants。Buthisconfidenceforsookhimasthetrialproceeded，andhewasfoundguiltyontheclearestevidenceofallthecrimeslaidtohischarge。Itwasprovedthathetookinsanepleasureinstabbingthevictimsofhislust，andinobservingthequiveringoftheirflesh，andthefadinglustreoftheireyesastheyexpired。TheconfessionofPrelatifirstmadethejudgesacquaintedwiththishorridmadness，andGilleshimselfconfirmeditbeforehisdeath。NearlyahundredchildrenofthevillagersaroundhistwocastlesofChamptoceandMachecoue，hadbeenmissedwithinthreeyearsthegreaterpart，ifnotall，ofwhomwereimmolatedtothelustorthecupidityofthismonster。Heimaginedthathethusmadethedevilhisfriend，andthathisrecompencewouldbethesecretofthephilosopher’sstone。

　　GillesandPrelatiwerebothcondemnedtobeburnedalive。Attheplaceofexecutiontheyassumedtheairofpenitenceandreligion。

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