dimly-lightedrooms。Inoneofthem，surroundedbyhugepillarsofmarble，asenateofghostswasassembled，debatingontheprogressoftheplague。Otherpartsofthebuildingwereenvelopedinthethickestdarkness，illuminedatintervalsbyflashesoflightning，whichallowedhimtodistinguishanumberofgibingandchatteringskeletons，runningaboutandpursuingeachother，orplayingatleap-frogoveroneanother’sbacks。Attherearofthemansionwasawild，uncultivatedplotofground，inthemidstofwhicharoseablackrock。Downitssidesrushedwithfearfulnoiseatorrentofpoisonouswater，which，insinuatingitselfthroughthesoil，penetratedtoallthespringsofthecity，andrenderedthemunfitforuse。Afterhehadbeenshownallthis，thestrangerledhimintoanotherlargechamber，filledwithgoldandpreciousstones，allofwhichheofferedhimifhewouldkneeldownandworshiphim，andconsenttosmearthedoorsandhousesofMilanwithapestiferoussalvewhichheheldouttohim。
tienowknewhimtobetheDevil，andinthatmomentoftemptation，prayedtoGodtogivehimstrengthtoresist。Hisprayerwasheard-
herefusedthebribe。Thestrangerscowledhorriblyuponhim-aloudclapofthunderburstoverhishead-thevividlightningflashedinhiseyes，andthenextmomenthefoundhimselfstandingaloneattheporchofthecathedral。Herepeatedthisstrangetaledayafterday，withoutanyvariation，andallthepopulacewerefirmbelieversinitstruth。Repeatedsearchwasmadetodiscoverthemysterioushouse，butallinvain。Themanpointedoutseveralasresemblingit，whichweresearchedbythepolice；buttheDemonofthePestilencewasnottobefound，northehallofghosts，northepoisonousfountain。Butthemindsofthepeopleweresoimpressedwiththeideathatscoresofwitnesses，halfcrazedbydisease，cameforwardtoswearthattheyalsohadseenthediabolicalstranger，andhadheardhischariot，drawnbythemilk-whitesteeds，rumblingoverthestreetsatmidnightwithasoundlouderthanthunder。
ThenumberofpersonswhoconfessedthattheywereemployedbytheDeviltodistributepoisonisalmostincredible。Anepidemicfrenzywasabroad，whichseemedtobeascontagiousastheplague。
Imaginationwasasdisorderedasthebody，anddayafterdaypersonscamevoluntarilyforwardtoaccusethemselves。Theygenerallyhadthemarksofdiseaseuponthem，andsomediedintheactofconfession。