The Equinox (Volume I, Number IX)

THE KEY OF THE MYSTERIES “Tt must be he,” said the Professor of Magic. Some days afterwards, a person who had been able to sketch the convict during the trial, showed it to Eliphas. “Let me copy this drawing,” said he, all trembling with fear. He made the copy, and took it to his friend Desbarrolles, of whom he asked, without other explanation : “ Do you know this head ?” “Yes,” said Desbarrolles energetically. ‘‘ Wait a moment : yes, it is the mysterious priest whom we saw at Mme. A——’s, and who wanted to make magical evocations.” “Oh, well, my friend, you confirm me in my sad con- viction. The man we saw, we shall never see again; the hand which you examined has become a bloody hand. We have heard speak of him, as he told us we should ; that pale priest, do you know what was his name?” “Oh, my God!” said Desbarolles, changing colour, “I am afraid to know it!” “Well, you know it: it was the wretch Louis Verger!” Some weeks after what we have just recorded, Eliphas Levi was talking with a bookseller whose speciality was to make a collection of old books concerning the occult sciences. They were talking of the gvimoive of Honorius. “ Now-a-days, it is impossible to find it,” said the mer- chant. “ The last that I had in my hands I sold to a priest for a hundred francs.” “ A young priest? And do you remember what he looked like 2?” “Oh, perfectly, but you ought to know him well yourself, 175