A character who made some noise in the world was the celebrated Jesuit,
Father Girard, and among the number of his pupils or penitents was Miss
Cadiere, who certainly may also be looked upon as an illustrious
character. The Cornelian disciplines which the Father used to serve upon
her, were one of the subjects of the public complaint she afterwards
preferred against him about the year 1730, which gave rise to a criminal
lawsuit or prosecution that made a prodigious noise. It was thought to
be a kind of stroke levelled at the whole Society of the Jesuits, and
was known to have been stirred up by monks belonging to orders who were
at open enmity with them. The Demoiselle Cadiere likewise brought
against Father Girard a charge of sorcery, and of having bewitched her;
in order, no doubt, to apologize for her having peaceably submitted to
the licentious actions of which she accused the Father, as well as to
those disciplines with which she reproached him, which she
circumstantially described in the original complaint, or charge, which
she preferred against him; for judges are persons who will not
understand things by half words,—one must speak plain to them, and call
everything by its proper name. Father Girard, as is evident from the
whole tenor of the declaration of Miss Cadiere herself, had as little
intention as Abelard to do any injury to his pupil or penitent.
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