virtue. And that expresses Gilles de Rais exactly."

"All the same, it's a mean subject to handle."

"It certainly is, but happily the documents are abundant. Satan was
terrible to the Middle Ages--"

"And to the modern."

"What do you mean?"

That Satanism has come down in a straight, unbroken line from that age
to this."

"Oh, no; you don't believe that at this very hour the devil is being
evoked and the black mass celebrated?"

"Yes."

"You are sure?"

"Perfectly."

"You amaze me. But, man! do you know that to witness such things would
aid me signally in my work? No joking, you believe in a contemporary
Satanistic manifestation? You have proofs?"

"Yes, and of them we shall speak later, for today I am very busy.
Tomorrow evening, when we dine with Carhaix. Don't forget. I'll come by
for you. Meanwhile think over the phrase which you applied a moment ago