Abbess. And what do you advise me to do? Wretch that I am! O Heavens! what will become of me,—what will become of the nuns?
Devil. I have already said that it is best to commit a slight sin if, by so doing, we prevent a great one, and you yourself have proved it by the authority of holy Fathers; but, dear sister, courage
and understanding will be necessary, if you wish to obtain your purpose without danger to your own soul, by loading another person with the capital sin.
Abbess. Ah, dear sister, and how is that to be contrived?
Devil. I was once in our convent in almost a similar perplexity. The good Sister Agatha here is my witness; and as she saw every thing, and assisted me, we may speak out before her.
Faustus bowed with humility.
Devil. A nun who, by sinful wit, and yet more sinful beauty, had found favour among the great and powerful, was, by their assistance, on the point of rising above me. Ah! I have felt how grievous are the thoughts of being forced to obey, after one has for a long time exercised boundless power. Well, in the presence of Sister Agatha, I entered into a consultation with my relation the prebend: he is very knowing in affairs of conscience and crime, and understands to a hair’s-breadth what is damnable and what is not. This wise man gave me a piece of advice which helped
me out of my trouble, and for which I shall always have reason to bless him. I admit that the expedient at first appeared to me sinful; but he assured me, and proved to me out of the casuists, that a little fasting and penance would do away with all that was culpable in it.
Abbess. But the advice—the advice!
Devil. I am ashamed to tell it you aloud.