In a trice without warning the face of nature
grew sullen Black angry mouths, the clouds swallowed up
the sun The air was dense with suppressed excitement
The wind howled through the long corridors and sobbed
and whispered in the secret recesses of the cells The chime of
the Vesper bell flowed out into the infinite The silver notes
the holy chant wrestled with the storm like ministering angels
with Satan At last the imps of Storm lay vanquished. The
hurricane paused in its course to do reverence to God.
Suddenly, however a terrific clap of thunder smote the sky
The holy chime of the bell broke off with a
a shrill dissonance
Demons seemed to people the belfry Rain came down like
cataract Flashes of lightning chased one another like battling fiery
dragons. The bells jangled hideously out of tune Unearthly noises
like a satanic parody of the holy sound that marks the elevation
of the host alarmed the ears the horrified monks unspeakable blasphemies
Prayer with ceremony and interspersed midst of a sacred had suddenly
gone mad in the if a High Priest Trembling but resolute Father Ambrose
seized a crucifix In phalanx if for battle the brethren followed
Solemn, with gleaming eyes and trembling nostrils, the militant army of God
swept up steep stairs mumbling the ritual of the Exorcism Infected somewhat
by the general hysteria Aubrey followed