V WITNESS TO THE MIRACULOUS 179 



Let us now briefly sum up the history of the 

 acquisition of the relics. Eginhard makes a con- 

 tract with Deusdona for the delivery of certain 

 relics which the latter says he possesses. Egin- 

 hard makes no inquiry how he came by them ; 

 otherwise, the transaction is innocent enough. 



Deusdona turns out to be a swindler, and has 

 no relics. Thereupon Eginhard's agent, after due 

 fasting and prayer, breaks open the tombs and 

 helps himself. 



Eginhard discovers by the self-betrayal of his 

 brother abbot, Hildoin, that portions of his relics 

 have been stolen and conveyed to the latter. 

 With much ado he succeeds in getting them back. 



Hildoin's agent, Hunus, in delivering these 

 stolen goods to him, at first declared they were 

 the relics of St. Tiburtius, which Hildoin desired 

 him to obtain ; but afterwards invented a story of 

 their being the product of a theft, which the 

 providential drowsiness of his companions enabled 

 him to perpetrate, from the relics which Hildoin 

 well knew were the property of his friend. 



Lunison, on the contrary, swears that all this 

 story is false, and that he himself was bribed by 

 Hunus to allow him to steal what he pleased from 

 the property confided to his own and his brother's 

 care by their guest Ratleig. And the honest 

 notary himself seems to have no hesitation about 

 lying and stealing to any extent, where the ac- 

 quisition of relics is the object in view. 



