his auditors that he was slipping on a white surplice that was hanging inside the door, then came the noise of a stool sliding across the floor, and all was silent.
'The nuns were all present except those occupied with the household duties. They had glided into the chapel more like shadows than like human beings. Two of them knelt in the confessional.
'Presently the sound of a deep voice, followed by soft whisperings was heard. The murmur ceased, then commenced again. Then came a long silence. The arms of the sinner moved restlessly as she pronounced mea culpa. The Lady Superior rose with a bowed head, her arms crossed on her breast, moved towards the little chapel of the Holy Virgin.
'All the nuns in turn came and knelt on either side of the confessional.
Finally it was the turn of the youngest novice.
'Trembling with fear and yet impatient to hear the Abbe's voice on the other side of the grating, she knelt down on her little wooden stool. By closing her eyes and stopping her ears she tried to examine her conscience. The image of the Abbe, however, would rise up before her.
She waited until the rattle of the little window warned her that he was ready to listen to her, and the confession began!
''Your blessing, my father,' etc., etc., until the solemn moment arrived when her most secret thoughts must be unveiled.
''My child, have you sinned in thought; have you longed for the world and the pleasures thereof?' 'She gave no answer.
'Then the Abbe whispered low: 'Have you ever had any bad thoughts?
Did you ever commit any sinful deeds?'
'Still she could not answer.
''Have you listened to the demon tempting you to sensual actions?
Speak without fear, my child, God is good and will forgive.' ''My father,' stammered the poor little novice, not understanding and yet trying to see the priest who was plying her with these terrible questions.
'She could only distinguish, however, through the grating, two flashing eyes which stirred her very soul with a magnetic influence, which the poor little novice would have been unable to define.
''Yes, father!' she replied at last, forced to say something.
''Have you sinned in thoughts and deeds, my child. How many times?' he then inquired, his voice trembling slightly. 'Did you commit these sins alone or have you a companion in sin? Speak, my child, to obtain pardon, you must confess all, as you can only obtain peace after a full confession. Have you given yourself up to Satan by day or by night?
Be careful not to commit sacrilege. I shall be obliged to refuse you absolution the next time if you do. Meanwhile examine your conscience carefully. Pray for help. Then you can approach the communion table. Pray every night with a contrite heart. Go, my child!' 'With an unsteady step she left the chapel. That night the young nun, Sister Clemence by name, could not sleep. She tossed restlessly on her narrow bed, and could think of nothing but the words the Abbe had spoken.
''Sinned in thoughts-yes, often I have longed to leave the convent and enter the beautiful shops in the city. Then there was Mr. Ernest, who used to come to my aunt's house. I have often thought how delightful it would be to ramble through the woods with him alone.
But are these bad thoughts-sensual thoughts?' she said.
'She finally closed her eyes and fell asleep and saw Satan! Yes, it was Satan. All at once, however, he assumed the form of the Abbe.
'He took her hand and placed it between her legs. Oh, what a delicious sensation, how delightful. 'Mr. Satan, Mr. Abbe, please, please go on… don't stop… ah, this is delicious!… oh!… Mr. Abbe!!' 'Sister Clemence awoke suddenly, trembling like a leaf, weak and tired. She felt numb between her legs. Placing her hand there, she found it was wet… poor little novice, she could not understand.
'Daylight appeared at last, but Clemence was unable to rest. She threw back the coverings and raised her long white chemise. She wanted to see, but there was nothing but the little stain of blood which surprised her very much at this particular time of month.
'When the great bell gave the signal for rising, Sister Clemence, usually so quick and lively, crept out of bed with difficulty and dressed herself slowly. She was the last to enter the chapel and kneeling down, joined her hands mechanically for the morning prayer.
'In the refectory she was unable to eat. When the Lady Superior arrived she questioned her. She was a sort of physician but she perceived nothing extraordinary in the symptoms of her subordinate and advised a few days of rest.
'During the eight days that Sister Clemence remained in her cell, she did not seem to improve; on the contrary, she grew worse and worse.
She could not sleep and if she happened to fall into a feverish slumber, the same vision pursued her, accompanied by the same temptations. It sometimes happened that even half awake, her hands would seek the mysterious spot, centre of such delightful sensations, and unconsciously her fingers lingered there.
'Finally, entirely awake, the same irresistible power drew her fingers to the same place, but then it required a longer time to reach the point of supreme enjoyment.
'At first the novice's thoughts were not fixed upon any particular object. Then she thought of Mr. Ernest, and lastly of the Abbe What a sacrilege!
'If you had seen this little childish hand buried between those white thighs, smooth and firm as marble, her lovely eyes partly closed and those ripe red lips slightly parted, you would have seen her body motionless at first, become slightly agitated, then the legs move further and further apart, the little finger slip in and out of the rosy mouth, until with a deep sigh, she sank back, powerless to move hand or foot.
'Two weeks had elapsed and the Abbe returned to confess the nuns.
The Lady Superior called on the invalid and asked her if she wished to confess. She even said that the Abbe had kindly offered to come to her cell as she was not able to rise. How to thank the Abbe for such a favour!
''Certainly, Mother, I should like to confess,' dutifully replied Sister Clemence.
'The Lady Superior left the cell and soon returned with the Abbe who entered with that bearing of humility he habitually assumed. He appeared most concerned at the illness of the novice and insisted that a full confession was the best possible remedy.
'Sister Clemence did not dare look at him, she was so confused. The Lady Superior retired, and the Abbe took a chair by the side of the bed.
''Have you examined your sinful heart, my child; are you ready to make a full confession?' ''Yes, my father!' 'The confession began. The poor little Sister did not know how to reveal what had happened. The fear, however, of not receiving absolution and communion gave her courage. She disclosed everything.
'The Abbe drew closer and closer, until she felt his breath upon her face. Her eyes were closed.
'Suddenly she felt his lips pressing hers in a long kiss. Unconsciously, a timid little kiss from her lips answered his. Then she felt a warm hand upon her body, which gradually seemed to move downward towards that spot where Satan had placed her finger on a certain night.
'The Abbe took another kiss, his hand passed gently over her thighs and slipping under her bottom, forced her to turn over on her side. Now he slapped her gently and pushed his finger into her slit between the two hills of her bottom, and it finally found its way into what appeared to be his desire to reach.
'But his hand set everything on fire on its way. With the other hand he unbuttoned his robe, undid his trousers and pulled out a prick whose erection was fully justified by the beauties his hand had explored and was still exploring.
'With a sudden pull, to throw off the cover, he laid himself down on the edge of the couch, close to her. Then, pressing her in his arms he covered her lips with kisses and taking her hand, placed it upon his god of love, firm and rigid as a rock.
'The contact caused the novice to open her eyes. He called her by the most endearing names: 'My love, open your eyes-kiss me. Open your eyes-receive my tongue-give me yours- so! Do you know what you are holding and squeezing so hard, my dear? It is the tree of life that you have so often heard about and desired so ardently without knowing the reason why. Place it where you put your finger sometimes.
There! Not so quick! Open your legs… one minute… there it is!' and the enormous instrument presented its
