The Equinox (Volume I, Number X)

THE KEY OF THE MYSTERIES “A danger?” said he. ‘No; none that I know of.” “Have you not been assaulted by a monster phantom, who sought to strangle you? Did it not hurt you?” Eliphas remembered. “Yes,” said he, “certainly, I had the beginning of a sort of apoplectic attack, and a horrible dream. But how do you know that?” “At the same time, an invisible hand struck me roughly on the shoulder, and awoke me suddenly. I dreamt then that I saw you fighting with Astaroth. I jumped up, and a voice said in my ear: ‘Arise and go to the help of thy Master; he is in danger.’ I got up in a great hurry. But where must I run? What danger threatened you? Was it at your own house, or elsewhere? The voice said nothing about that. I decided to wait for sunrise; and immediately day dawned, I ran, and here I am.” “Thanks, friend,” said the magus, holding out his hand ; “ Astaroth is a stupid joker; all that happened last night was a little blood to the head. Now, I am perfectly well. Be assured, then, and return to your work.” Strange as may be the facts which we have just related, there remains for us to unveil a tragic drama much more extraordinary still. It refers to the deed of blood which at the beginning of this year plunged Paris and all Christendom into mourning and stupefaction; a deed in which no. one suspected that Black Magic had any part. Here is what happened: During the winter, at the beginning of last year, a book- seller informed the author of the Dogme et rituel de la M 161