The Equinox (Volume I, Number IX)

THE KEY OF THE MYSTERIES “Unhappy man! But who, then, was the victim?” At this question, the workman had a slight trembling; he paled, and his glance became troubled. “Master, you know better than I what it is,” said he humbly in a low voice. ‘Oh, it cost me a great deal to do it; above all, the first time, with a single blow of the magic knife to cut the throat of that innocent creature! One night I had just accomplished the funereal rites, I was seated in the circle on the interior threshold of my door, and the victim had just been consumed in a great fire of alder and cypress wood. . All of a sudden, quite close to me... . I dreamt or rather I felt it pass... I heard in my ear a heartrending wail . . . one would have said that it wept; and since that moment, I think that I am hearing it always.” Eliphas had risen ; he looked fixedly upon his interlocutor. Had he before him a dangerous madman, capable of renew- ing the atrocities of the seigneur of Retz? And yet the face of the man was gentle and honest. No, it was not possible. “But then this victim. . . tell me clearly what it was. You suppose that I know already. Perhaps I do know, but I have reasons for wishing you to tell me.” “It was, according to the magic ritual, a young goat of a year old, virgin, and without defect.” “A real young he-goat?” “Doubtless. Understand that it was neither a child’s toy, nor a stuffed animal.” Eliphas breathed again. “Good,” thought he ; “this man is not a sorcerer worthy of the stake. He does not know that the abominable authors 157