Mr. Kleaver: Invisible hands often clutched the twins by the throat. I have seen them.
Judge Bride: The invisible hands?
Mr. Kleaver: No. I have seen the throats. And I have also taken the needles, pins, and such from their flesh. These children have vomited strange things—fur, insects, glass, long hanks of hair—blue beads.... (He stooped to the bundle at their honours’ feet.) Sirs, here is the basket in which the young woman sent poisoned or possessed food to the afflicted—mark the blue beads on the handle. Three days earlier, the one of them spewed forth these blue beads I now take from my pocket—mark, gentlemen—they are identical.
Mrs. Thumb: There was never a bead like that before in my house.
She wept. The children screamed out in gibberish at sight of the beads, and fell back upon their pallets.
Judge Bride: Mark the children, Mr. Kleaver, are they now, in your opinion, possessed?
Mr. Kleaver: Not exactly possessed. (He whispered to the magistrates.) They are conscious of a malignant presence. They know the witch is in the room.
The twins: Oh, oh, oh, God help us, oh, oh, oh!
Judge Bride: Sheriff, uncover to us the accused. Now, children, stand up, if able, and look there at the table above you.
The room was filled with their piercing din. Labour fell in a fit, foaming, rolling her eyes. She was stretched out stark and dead. Sorrow flung herself in hideous terror upon the feet of the Judges, crying out piteously that they save her. Then she fell back stark and dumb. Judge Lollimour was touched by her plight, her fear, and the appeal she made to him. He raised her up, felt of her hands and face. They were dank with a cold sweat which both Judges knew no art could imitate. Her pulse scarce moved. Her tongue was tied in her throat. She could not speak. She looked up out of tortured eyes.