People began to accompany Bernadette upon her visits to the grotto, and the number and interest of her observers daily increased.  Many who were entirely skeptical went for the purpose of gratifying their curiosity.  Among this class were Madame Millet and Mademoiselle Antoinette Peyret, who accompanied the little girl one day with the intention of questioning her after they had studied her conduct.  On this occasion she excited their suspicions by leading them by an unaccustomed route down a steep and rocky path, where they had great difficulty in following her.  They finally arrived at the grotto, and were astounded to observe the change that came over her.  She seemed to be in a state of ecstatic awe.

The ladies were so solemnly impressed by her appearance that they felt deep regret for having intruded upon so reverent a scene.

“It is a profanation for us to be here,” said one.

“You must remain,” said Bernadette immediately, as if she had been directed to stop them.

“Ask who she is,” exclaimed Madame Millet, greatly excited.  “Here, take this card and pencil, and beg of her that she will write down her wishes.”

Bernadette took them, and the ladies heard her repeat the request as she approached the excavation and the divine radiance lighted up her face.  She paused, and for several moments remained in an apparent state of rapture:  then she returned to them, and in reply to their inquiries said that her “Dame” had said that she saw no necessity to write her wishes, for she knew Bernadette would obey.

“Obey what?” asked Mademoiselle Peyret.  “What did she command you to do?”

“To come to meet her at the grotto every day for fifteen days.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know why.”

“But did she not say anything more?”

“Yes, madame.”

“What?”

“She promised that if I did so I should be happy in a future world.”

Madame Millet and Mademoiselle Peyret went home mystified.  The story of their futile attempt to discover deception in Bernadette got abroad, “and still the wonder grew.”  The interest in the visions intensified, and vast crowds, numbered not by tens, but by hundreds, assembled to watch Bernadette during the appointed fifteen days.  The entire population of Lourdes appeared to be included in the crowd.  The presence of this observing multitude exerted no influence whatever upon Bernadette, who passed among them as they made way for her without looking to the right or to the left, as if she had too great thoughts on her mind to give any heed to the people.  Day after day she repeated her visits, kneeling in her accustomed place and giving herself up to a state of ecstasy.

About this time, so great had become the popular excitement over the child, the attention of the authorities was attracted by it.  Accordingly, M. Massy, prefect of the commune, and M. Jacomet, commissaire de police, conferred together, and decided to arrest Bernadette as an impostor.  It was on the 11th of February, 1858, when the girl had her first vision, and about ten days thereafter, in the presence of a great crowd, a police-officer approached her, and laying his hand upon her shoulder took her to the commissaire for examination.