"They give themselves to Satan," answered the grandmother.
"How?"
"They sign their name, writing it backwards with their own blood."
Adèle shuddered; although she was a country girl, she had never heard anything of the sort before. She listened attentively.
"You told me they were given books; did you not?" questioned the lad.
"Yes they receive one or two infamous books, which they cannot destroy after they have taken them, neither can anyone else do away with these bad books. Yet, I remember quite well when there was one completely annihilated.
"It was when one of my aunt's died. She was a terrible witch; alas, the chairs; and all the cups and saucers, bowls and plates on the dresser danced when they carried her body out of the house."
Adèle laughed.
Tommy looked at her. "Oh, it's true," he said, "you can laugh if you like—ain't it grand'ma?"