'Yes, I'm certain of that,' he assured her.
'You choose a time when the planet was in the 'ouse of Capricorn,
of course?'
'Oh, surely!'
'An' you 'ave not neglect to make Libation to Our Lady Babalon
before'and?'
'Oh, no, we wouldn't do that!'
'Then per'aps your periods of silence were not long enough?'
'Maybe that's so,' he admitted hurriedly, hoping to close this
madhatter's conversation before he completely put his foot into it.
Countess D'Urfe nodded, then after drawing thoughtfully at her
cigar she looked at him intently. 'Silence,' she murmured. 'Silence,
that ees always essential in the Ritual of Saturn-but you 'ave much
courage to thwart Mocata-'e is powerful, that one.'
'Oh, we're not afraid of him,' Rex declared and, recalling the
highest grade of operator from his conversation with De Richleau, he
added: 'You see the Duke knows all about this thing-he's an
Ipsissimus.'
The old lady's eyes almost popped out of their sockets at this
announcement, and Rex feared that he had gone too far, but she
leaned forward and placed one of her jewelled claws upon his arm.
'An Ipsissimus!-an' I 'av studied the Great Work for forty years,
yet I 'ave reached only the degree of Practicus. But no, 'e cannot
be, or 'ow could 'e fail with the Rite to Saturn?'
'I only said that it didn't pan out quite as we expected,' Rex
hastened to remind her, 'and for the full dress business he'd need
Simon Aron anyway.'
'Of course,' she nodded again and continued in an awestruck
whisper, 'an' De Richleau is then a real Master. You must be far
advanced for one so young-that 'e allow you to work with 'im.'
He flicked the ash off his cigarette but maintained a cautious
silence.
'I am not-'ow you say-associated with Mocata long-since I 'ave
arrive only recently in England, but De Richleau will cast 'im down
into the Abyss-for 'ow shall 'e prevail against one who is of ten
circles and a single square?'
Rex nodded gravely.
'Could I not-' her dark eyes filled with a new eagerness, 'would
it not be possible for me to prostrate before your frien'? If you
spoke for me also, per'aps 'e would allow that I should occupy a
minor place when 'e proceeds again to the invocation?'
'Ho! Ho!' said Rex to himself, 'so the old rat wants to scuttle
from the sinking ship, does she. I ought to be able to turn this to
our advantage,' while aloud he said with a lordly air: 'All things
are possible-but there would be certain conditions.'
'Tell me,' she muttered swiftly.
'Well, there is this question of Simon Aron.'
'What question?-Now that you 'ave 'im with you-you can do with
'im as you will.'
Rex quickly averted his gaze from the piercing black eyes.
Evidently Mocata had turned the whole party out after they had got
away with Simon. The old witch obviously had no idea that Mocata had
regained possession of him later. In another second he would have
given away their whole position by demanding Simon's whereabouts.
Instead-searching his mind desperately for the right bits of
gibberish he said: 'When De Richleau again proceeds to the
invocation it is necessary that the vibrations of all present should
be attuned to those of Simon Aron.'
'No matter-willingly I will place myself in your 'ands for
preparation.'
'Then I'll put it up to him, but first I must obey his order and
say a word to the lady who was with you at Aron's house last
night-Tanith.' Having at last manoeuvred the conversation to this
critical point, Rex mentally crossed his thumbs and offered up a
prayer that he was right in assuming that they were staying at the
hotel together.
She smiled, showing two rows of white false teeth. 'I know it,
and you must pardon, I beg, that we 'ave our little joke with you.'
'Oh, don't worry about that,' he shrugged, wondering anxiously to
what new mystery she was alluding, but to his relief she hurried on.
'Each morning we look into the crystal an' when she see you walk
into the 'otel she exclaim, It is for me 'e comes-the tall
American," but we 'ave no knowledge that you are more than a
Neophyte or a Zelator at the most, so when you send up the flowers
she say to me, "You shall go down to 'im instead an' after we will
laugh at the discomfiture of this would-be lover."'
The smile broadened on Rex's full mouth as he listened to the
explanation of much that had been troubling him in the last hour,
but it faded suddenly as he realised that, natural as it seemed
compared to all this meaningless drivel which he had been exchanging
with the old woman, it was in reality one more demonstration of the
occult. These two women had actually seen him walk into the hotel
lounge when they were sitting upstairs in their room peering into a
piece of glass.
'In some ways I suffer the disappointment,' said the old Countess
suddenly, and Rex found her studying turn with a strange,
disconcerting look. 'I know well that promiscuity gives a greaty
power for all 'oo follow the Path an' that 'uman love 'inders our
development, but nevair 'ave I been able to free myself from a so
stupid sentimentality-an' you would, I think, 'ave made a good lover
for 'er.'
Rex stared in astonished silence, then looked quickly away, as
she added: 'No matter-the other ees of real importance. I will send
for 'er that you may give your message.'
With a little jerk she stood up and gripping her ebony cane
stumped across to the hall porter's desk while he relaxed, un
utterably glad that this extraordinary interview was over.
However, he felt a glow of satisfaction in the thought that he
kad duped her into the belief that De Richleau and himself were even
more powerful adepts than Mocata, and at having played his cards
sufficiently well to secure a meeting with Tanith under such
favourable circumstances. If only he could get into his car, he was
determined to inveigle her into giving him any information she
possessed which might lead to the discovery of Simon's whereabouts,
although, since Madame D'Urfe was ignorant of the fact that he was
no longer with the Duke, it was hardly likely that Tanith would
actually be able to take them to him.
With new anxiety Rex realised the gravity of the check. They had
practically counted on Tanith having the knowledge, if only they
could get it out of her, and even if he could persuade her to talk
about Mocata the man might have a dozen haunts. If so it would be no
easy task to visit all before sundown and the urgency of the Duke's
instructions still rang in his ears.
Today was May Day Eve. The Great Sabbat of the year would be held
tonight. It was absolutely imperative that they should trace and
secure Simon before dusk or else, under the evil influence which now
dominated his mentality, he would be taken to participate in those
unholy rites and jeopardise for ever the flame of goodness, wisdom
and right thinking which men term the soul.
After a moment Madame D'Urfe rejoined him. 'For tonight at
least,' she whispered, 'things in dispute between the followers of
the Path will be in abeyance-is it not?-for all must make their
'omage to the One.'
He nodded and she bent towards him, lowering her voice still
further: 'If I could but see De Richleau for one moment- as
Ipsissinus 'e must possess the unguent?'
That's so,' Rex agreed, but he was horribly uncertain of his
ground again as he added cryptically: 'But what of the Moon?'
'Ah, fatality,' she sighed. 'I 'ad forgotten that we are in the
dark quarter.'
He blessed the providence which had guided his tongue as she went
on sadly: 'I 'ave try so often but nevair yet 'ave I
succeeded. I know all things necessary to its preparation, an'
'ave gathered every 'erb at the right period. I 'ave even rendered
down the fat, but they must 'ave cheated me. It was from a mortuary
per'aps-but not from a graveyard as it should 'ave been.'
Rex felt the hair bristle on the back of his neck and his whole
body stiffened slightly as he heard this gruesome confession. Surely
it was inconceivable that people still practised these medieval
barbarities-yet he recalled the terrible manifestation that he had
witnessed with the Duke on the previous night. After that he could
no longer employ modern standards of belief or unbelief to the
possibilities which might result from the strange and horrible
doings of these people who had given themselves over to ancient
cults.
The old Countess was regarding him again with that queer
disconcerting look. 'It matters not,' she murmured. 'We shall get
there just the same, Tanith and I-an' it should be interesting-for
nevair before 'as she attended the Great Sabbat.'
The lift gates clicked at that moment and Tanith stepped out into
the corridor. For a fleeting instant Rex caught a glimpse of her
wise, beautiful face, over the old woman's shoulder, but the
Countess was speaking again in a husky whisper, so he was forced to
look back at her.
'Nevair before,' she repeated with unholy glee, 'and after the
One 'as done that which there is to do, 'oo knows but you may be the
next-if you are quick.'
Forcing himself out of his chair Rex shut his ears to the
infernal implication. His general reading had been enough for him to
be aware that in the old. days the most incredible orgies took place
as the climax to every Sabbat, and his whole body crept at the
thought of Tanith being subjected to such abominations. His impulse
was to seize this iniquitous old woman by the throat and choke the
bestial life out of her fat body, but with a supreme effort he
schooled himself to remain outwardly normal.
As Tanith approached, and taking his hand smiled into his eyes,
he knew that she, as well as Simon, must be saved before nightfall
from-yes, the old biblical quotation leapt to his mind-'The Power of
the Dog,' that was strong upon them.
10
Tanith Proves Stubborn
After the muttering of the old Countess and her veiled allusions
to unspeakable depravities Rex felt that even the air had grown
stale and heavy, as though charged with some subtle quality of evil,
but on the coming of Tanith the atmosphere seemed to lighten. The
morning sunshine was lending a pale golden glow to the street
outside and in her hand she held one of the sprays of lilac which he
had sent up to her. She lifted it to her face as he returned her
smile. 'So I' she said in a low clear voice, her eyes mocking him
above the fragrant bloom: 'You insisted then that Madame should let
you see me?'
'I'd have sat around this place all day if she hadn't,' Rex
confessed frankly, 'because now we've met at last I'm hoping you'll
let me see something of you.'
'Perhaps-but not today. I have many things to do and already I am
late for the dressmaker.'
Rex thanked his stars that the old woman had unwittingly given
him a lever in assuming the Duke to be an Adept of great power, and
himself his envoy. 'It's mighty important that I should see you
today,' he insisted. There are certain things we've got to talk
about.'
'Got to!' A quick frown clouded Tanith's face. 'I do not
understand!'
'Ma petite, it is you 'oo do not understan',' Madame D'Urfe broke
in hastily. Then she launched into a torrent of low speech in some
foreign language, but Rex caught De Richleau's name and the word
Ipsissimus, so he guessed that she was giving Tanith some version of
the events which had taken place the night before, based on his own
misleading statements, and wondered miserably how long he would be
able to keep up the impersonation which had been thrust upon him.
Tanith nodded several times and studied him with a new interest
as she nibbled a small piece of the lilac blossom between her teeth.
Then she said with charming frankness: 'You must forgive me-I had no
idea you were such an important member of the Order.'
'Forget it please,' he begged, 'but if you're free I'd be glad if
you could join me for lunch.'
'That puts me in a difficulty because I am supposed to be
lunching with the wife of the Roumanian Minister.'
'How about this afternoon then?'
Her eyes showed quick surprise. 'But we shall have to leave here
by four o'clock if we are to get down by dusk-and I have my packing
to do yet.'
He realised that she was referring to the meeting and covered his
blunder swiftly. 'Of course-I'm always forgetting that these
twisting English roads don't permit of the fast driving I'm used to
back home. How would it be if I run you along to your dress place
now and then we took'a turn round the Park after?'
'Yes-if you will have lots of patience with me, because I take an
almost idiotic interest in my clothes.'
'You're telling me! He murmured to himself as he admired the slim
graceful lines of her figure clad so unostentatiously and yet so
suitably for the sunshine of the bright spring day. He picked up his
hat and beamed at her. 'Let's go-shall we?'
To his amazement he found himself taking leave of the old
Countess just as though she were a nice, normal, elderly lady who
was chaperoning some young woman to whom he had been formally
introduced at a highly respectable dance. And indeed, as they
departed, her dark eyes had precisely the same look which had often
scared him in mothers who possessed marriageable daughters. Had he
not known that such thoughts were anathema to her creed he would
have sworn that she was praying that they would be quick about it,
so that she could book a day before the end of the season at St.
George's, Hanover Square, and was already listing in her mind the
guests who should be asked to the reception.
'Where does the great artist hang out?' he asked as he helped
Tanith into the car.
'I have two,' she told him. 'Schiaparelli just across the square,
where I shall be for some twenty minutes, and after I have also to
visit Artelle in Knightsbridge- Are you sure that you do not mind
waiting for me?'
'Why, no! we've a whole heap of time before us.'
'And tonight as well,' she added slowly. 'I am glad that you will
be there because I am just a little nervous.'
'You needn't be!' he said with a sudden tightening of his mouth,
but she seemed satisfied with his assurance and had no inkling of
his real meaning.
As she alighted in Upper Grosvenor Street he called gaily after
her: 'Twenty minutes mind, and not one fraction over,' then he drove
across the road and pulled up at the International Sportsman's Club
of which he was a member.
The telephone exchange put him through to the British Museum
quickly enough, but the operator there nearly drove him frantic. It
seemed that it was not part of the Museum staff's duties to search
for visitors in the Reading Room, but after urgent prayers about
imaginary dead and dying they at last consented to have the Duke
hunted out. The wait that followed seemed interminable but at
last'De Richleau came to the line.
'I've got the girl,' Rex told him hurriedly, 'but how long I'll
be able to keep her I don't know. I've had a long talk, too, with
the incredible old woman who smokes cigars-you know the one-Madame
D'Urfe. They're staying at Claridges together and both of them are
going to the party you spoke of tonight. Where it's to be held I
don't know, but they're leaving London by car at four o'clock and
hope to make the place by nightfall. I've spun 'em a yarn that
you're the high and mighty Hoodoo in the you-know-what-a fat bigger
bug than Mocata ever was-so the old lady's all for giving him the go-
by and sitting in round about your feet, but neither of them knows
where Simon is-I'm certain. In fact they've no idea that he made a
getaway last night after we got him to your flat-so what's the drill
now?'
'I see-well, in that case you must. . .' but Rex never learnt
what De Richleau intended him to do for at that moment they were cut
off. When he got through to the Museum again it was to break in on a
learned conversation about South American antiques which was being
conducted on another line and, realising that he had already
exceeded his twenty minutes, he had no option but to hang up the
receiver and dash out into the street.
Tanith was just coming down the steps of Schiaparelli's as he
turned the car to meet her. 'Where now?' he asked when she had
settled herself beside him.
'To Artelle. It is just opposite the barracks in Knightsbridge. I
will not be more than five minutes this time, but she has a new idea
for me. She is really a very clever woman, so I am anxious to hear
what she has thought of.'
It was the longest speech he had so far heard her make, as their
conversation the night before had been brief and frequently
interrupted by Mocata. Her idiom was perfect, but the way in which
she selected her words and the care with which she pronounced them
made him ask suddenly. 'You're not English-are you?'
'Yes,' she smiled as they turned into Hyde Park, 'but my mother
was Hungarian and I have lived abroad nearly all my life. Is my
accent very noticeable?'
'Well-in a way, but it sounds just marvellous to me. Your voice
has got that deep caressing note about it which reminds me of-well,
if you want the truth, it's like Marlene Dietrich on the talkies.'
She threw back her head and gave a low laugh. 'If I believed that
I should be tempted to keep it, and as it is I have been working so
hard to get rid of it ever since I have been in England. It is
absurd that I should not be able to speak my own language
perfectly-yet I have talked English so little, except to foreign
governesses when I was a young girl.'
'And how old are you now, or is that a piece of rudeness?'
'How old do you think?'
'From your eyes you might be any age, but I've a feeling that
you're not much over twenty-two.'
'If I were to live I should be twenty-four next January.'
'Come now,' he protested, laughing, 'what a way to put it, that's
only a matter of nine months and no one could say you don't look
healthy.'
'I am,' she assured him gravely, 'but let us not talk of death.
Look at the colour of those rhododendrons. They are so lovely.'
'Yes, they've jerked this Park up no end since I first saw it as
a boy.' As the traffic opened he turned the car into Knightsbridge
and two minutes later Tanith got out at the discreet door of her
French dressmaker.
While she was inside Rex considered the position afresh, and
endeavoured to concoct some cryptic message purporting to come from
the Duke, to the effect that she was not to attend the Sabbat but to
remain in his care until it was all over, Yet he felt that she would
never believe him. It was quite evident that she meant to be present
at this unholy Walpurgis-Nacht gathering, and from what the old
woman had said all Satanists regarded it with such importance that
even warring factions among them sank their differences-for this one
night of the year-in order to attend.
Obviously she could have no conception of what she was letting
herself in for, but the very idea of her being mishandled by that
ungodly crew made his big biceps tighten with the desire to lash out
at someone. He had got to keep her with him somehow, that was
clear-but how?
He racked his mind in vain for a plausible story but, to his
dismay, she rejoined him almost immediately and he had thought of
nothing by the time they had turned into the Park again.
'Well-tell me,' she said softly.
Tell you what?' he fenced. 'That I think you're very lovely?'
'No, no. It is nice that you should have troubled to make pretty
speeches about my accent and Marlene Dietrich, but it is time for
you to tell me now of the real reason that brought you to Claridges
this morning.'
'Can't you guess?'
'No.'
'I wanted to take you out to lunch.'
'Oh, please! Be serious-you have a message forme?'
'Maybe, but even if I hadn't, I'd have been right on the mat at
your hotel just the same.'
She frowned slightly. 'I don't understand. Neither of us is free
to give our time to that sort of thing.'
'I've reached a stage where I'm the best judge of that,' he
announced, with the idea of trying to recover some of the prestige
which seemed to be slipping from him.
'Have you then crowned yourself with the Dispersion of Choronzon
already?'
Rex suppressed a groan. Here they were off on the Mumbo Jumbo
stuff again. He felt that he would never be able to keep it up, so
instead of answering he turned the car with sudden determination out
into the Kensington Road and headed towards Hammersmith.
'Where are you taking me?' she asked quickly.
To lunch with De Richleau,' he lied. 'I've got no message for you
but the Duke sent me to fetch you because he wants to talk to you
himself.' It was the only story he could think of which just might
get over.
'I see-where is he?'
'At Pangbourne.'
'Where is that?'
'Little place down the Thames-just past Reading.'
'But that is miles away!'
'Only about fifty.'
'Surely he could have seen me before he left London.'
He caught her eyes, quick with suspicion, on his face, so he
answered boldly: 'I know nothing of that, but he sent me to fetch
you-and what the Duke says goes.'
'I don't believe you!' she exclaimed angrily. 'Stop this car at
once! -I am going to get out.'
11
The Truth Will Always Out
For a second Rex thought of ignoring her protest and jamming his
foot on the accelerator, but the traffic in Kensington High Street
was thick, and to try to abduct her in broad daylight would be sheer
madness. She could signal a policeman and have him stopped before
he'd gone two hundred yards.
Reluctantly he drew hi to the side of the road, but he stretched
his long arm in front of her and gripped the door of the car so that
she could not force it open.
Tanith stared at him with angry eyes: 'You are lying to me -I
will not go with you.'
'Wait a moment.' He thrust out his chin pugnaciously while he
mustered all his resources to reason with her. If he once let her
leave the car the chances were all against his having another
opportunity to prevent her reaching the secret rendezvous where
those horrible Walpurgis ceremonies would take place in the coming
night. His determination to prevent her participating in those
barbaric rites, of which he was certain she could not know the real
nature, quickened his brain to an unusual cunning: 'You know what
happened to Simon Aron?' he said.
'Yes, you kidnapped him from his own home last night.'
'That's so-but do you know why?'
'Madame D'Urfe said that it was because the Duke is also seeking
for the Talisman of Set. You needed him for your own invocations.'
'Exactly.' Rex paused for a moment to wonder what the Talisman
could be. This was the second time he had heard it mentioned. Then
he went on slowly: 'It's him being born under certain stars makes
his presence essential. We'd hunt for years before we found anyone
else who's suitable to do the business and born in the same hour of
the same day and year. Well, we need you too.'
'But my number is not eight!'
'That doesn't matter-you're under the Moon, aren't you?' He
risked the shot on what he remembered of De Richleau's words about
her name.
'Yes,' she admitted. 'But what has that to do with it?'
'A whole heap-believe you me. But naturally you'd know nothing of
that. Even Mocata doesn't realise the importance of the Moon in this
thing and that's why he's failed to make much headway up to date.'
'Mocata would be furious if I left his Circle-you see I am his
favourite medium-so attuned to his vibrations that he would have the
very greatest difficulty in replacing me. Perhaps -perhaps he would
punish me in some terrible manner.' Tanith's face had gone white and
her eyes were staring slightly at the thought of some nameless evil
which might befall her.
'Don't worry. De Richleau will protect you-and he's an Ipsissimus
remember. If you don't come right along, now he wants to see you,
maybe he'll do something to you that'll be far worse.' As Rex lied
and threatened he hated himself for it, but the girl had just got to
be saved from herself and this form of blackmail was the only line
that offered.
'How am I to know? How am I to know?' she repeated quickly. 'You
may be lying. Think what might happen to me if Mocata proved the
stronger.'
'You had the proof last night. We got Simon Aron away from under
his very nose-didn't we?'
'Yes, but will you be able to keep him?'
'Sure,' Rex declared firmly, but he felt sick with misery as he
remembered that by Mocata's power Simon had been taken from them
under the hour. And where was Simon now? The day was passing, their
hope of Tanith being able to put them on his track had proved a
failure. How would they find him in time to save him too from the
abominations of the coming night?
'Oh, what shall I do?' Tanith gave a little nervous sob. 'It is
the first tune I have heard of any feud in our Order. I thought that
if I only followed the Path I should acquire power and now this
hideously dangerous decision is thrust on me.'
Rex saw that she was weakening so he pressed the self-starter.
'You're coming with me and you're not going to be frightened of
anything. Get that now-I mean it.'
She nodded. 'All right. I win trust you then,' and the car slid
into motion.
For a few moments they sat in silence, then as the car entered
Hammersmith Broadway he turned and smiled at her. 'Now let's cut out
all talk about this business till we see the Duke and just be
normal-shall we?'
'If you wish-tell me about yourself?'
He smothered a sigh of relief at her acquiescence. At least he
would be free for an hour or so from the agonising necessity of
skating on thin ice of grim parables which had no meaning for him.
With all his natural gaiety restored he launched into an account of
his life at home in the States, his frequent journeys abroad, and
his love of speed in cars and boats and planes and bob-sleighs.
As they sped through Brentford and on to Slough he got her to
talk a little about herself. Her English father had died when she
was still a baby and the Hungarian mother had brought her up. All
her childhood had been spent in an old manor house, dignified by the
name of Castle, in a remote village on the southern slopes of the
Carpathians, shut in so completely from the world by steep mountains
on every side that even the War had passed it by almost unnoticed.
After the peace and the disintegration of the Austrian-Hungarian
Empire their lands had become part of the new state of Jugo-Slavia,
but her life had gone on much the same for, although the War had
cost them a portion of their fortune, the bulk of it had been left
safe by her father in English Trustee securities. Her mother had
died three years before and it was then, having no personal ties and
ample money, that she had decided to travel. 'Isn't it just
marvellous that I should have seen you such
different places about the world,' he laughed.
'The first time that you speak of in Budapest I do not remember,'
she replied, 'but I recall the day outside Buenos Aires well. You
were in a long red car and I was riding a roan mare. As you drew
into the side of the track to let us pass I wondered why I knew your
face, and then I remembered quite clearly that our cars had been
locked side by side in a traffic jam, months before, in New York.'
'Seems as if we were just fated to meet sometime-doesn't it?'
'We both know that there is no such thing as Chance,' she said
slowly. 'I believe you have a wax image of me somewhere and have
worked upon it to bring today about.'
The day before he would have instantly assumed her to be joking,
despite her apparent seriousness, but now, he realised with a little
shock, he no longer considered it beyond the bounds of possibility
that actual results might be procured by doing certain curious
things to a little waxen doll, so greatly had his recent experiences
altered his outlook. He hesitated, unable to confess his ignorance
of such practices, and unwilling to admit that he had not done his
best to bring about a meeting, but he was saved from the necessity
of a reply by Tanith suddenly exclaiming:
'I had forgotten!-luncheon-I shall never be back in time.'
'Easy, put through a call and say you've suddenly been called out
of Town,' he told her, and a few miles farther on he pulled up at
Skindles Hotel in Maidenhead.
While Tanith was telephoning he stood contemplating the river.
Although it was early in the year a period of drought had already
checked the spate of the current sufficiently to make boating
pleasureable, and he noted that in the gardens of the Hungaria River
Club, on the opposite bank, they were setting out their gay
paraphernalia preparatory to opening for the Season. Immediately
Tanith rejoined him they set off again.
The straggling suburbs of Greater London had already been left
behind them before Slough and now, after Maidenhead, the scattered
clusters of red-roofed dwellings on the new building estates, which
have spread so far afield, also disappeared, giving place to the
real country. On certain portions of the road, the fresh green of
the beech trees formed a spring canopy overhead and between their
trunks, dappled with sunlight, patches of bluebells gave glory to
the silent woods; at others they ran between meadows where lazy
cattle nibbled the new grass, or fields where the young corn, strong
with life, stretched its vivid green shoots upwards to the sun.
The sight and smell of the countryside, unmarred by man or
carefully tended in his interests, windswept and clean, gave Rex
fresh confidence. He banished his anxiety about Simon for the moment
and, thrusting from his mind all thoughts of this gruesome business
into which he had been drawn, began to talk all the gay nonsense to
Tanith which he would have aired to any other girl whom he had
induced to steal a day out of London in which to see the country
preparing its May Day garb.
Before they reached Reading he had her laughing, and by the time
they entered the little riverside village of Pangbourne, her pale
face was flushed with colour and her eyes dancing with new light.
They crossed to the Whitchurch side where the Duke's house stood,
some way back from the river, its lawns sloping gently to the
water's edge.
Max received them, and while a maid took Tanith upstairs to wash,
Rex had a chance to whisper quick instructions to him.
When she entered the low, old-fashioned lounge with its wide
windows looking out over the tulip beds to the trees on the further
bank she found Rex whistling gaily. He was shooting varying
proportions of liquor out of different bottles into a cocktail
shaker. Max stood beside him holding a bowl of ice.
'Where is the Duke?' she asked, with a new soberness in her
voice.
He had been waiting for the question, and keeping his face
averted answered cheerfully: 'He's not made it yet-what time are you
expecting him, Max?'
'I should have told you before, sir. His Excellency telephoned
that I was to present his excuses to the lady, and ask you, sir, to
act as host in his stead. He has been unavoidably detained, but
hopes to be able to join you for tea.'
'Well, now, if that isn't real bad luck!' Rex exclaimed
feelingly. 'Never mind, we'll go right in to lunch the moment it's
ready.' He tasted the concoction which he had been beating up with a
large spoon and added: 'My! that's good!'
'Yes, sir-in about five minutes, sir,' Max bowed gravely and
withdrew.
Rex knew that there was trouble corning but he presented a glass
of the frothing liquid with a steady hand. 'Never give a girl a
large cocktail,' he cried gaily, 'but plenty of 'em. Make 'em strong
and drink 'em quick-come on now! It takes a fourth to make an
appetite- Here's to crime!'
But Tanith set down the glass untasted. All the merriment had
died out of her eyes and her voice was full of a fresh anxiety as
she said urgently: 'I can't stay here till tea-time- don't you
realise that I must leave London by four o'clock.'
It was on the tip of his tongue to say, 'Where is this place
you're going to?' but he caught himself in time and substituted:
'Why not go from here direct?' Then he prayed silently that the
secret meeting place might not be on the other side of London.
Her face lightened for a moment. 'Of course, I forgot that you
were going yourself, and the journey must be so much shorter from
here. If you could take me it seems stupid to go all the way back to
London-but what of Madame D'Urfe- she expects me to motor down with
her-and I must have my clothes.'
'Why not call her on the phone. Ask her to have your stuff packed
up and say we'll meet her there. You've got to see the Duke, and
whatever happens he'll turn up here because he and I are going down
together.'
She nodded. 'If I am to place myself under his protection it is
vital that I should see him before the meeting, for Mocata has eyes
hi the ether and will know that I am here by now.'
'Come on then!' He took her hand and pulled her to her feet.
'Well get through to Claridges right away.'
Tanith allowed him to lead-her out into the hall and when he had
got the number he left her at the telephone. Then he returned to the
lounge, poured himself another cocktail and began to do a gay little
dance to celebrate his victory. He felt that he had got her now,
safe for the day, until the Duke turned up. Then trust De Richleau
to get something out of her which would enable them to get on
Simon's track after all.
At his sixth pirouette he stopped suddenly. Tanith was standing
in the doorway, her face ashen, her big eyes blazing with a mixture
of anger and fear.
'You have lied to me,' she stammered out, 'Mocata is with the
Countess at this moment-he got Simon Aron away from you last night.
You and your precious Duke are impostors- charlatans- You haven't
even the power to protect yourselves, and for this Mocata may tie me
to the Wheel of Ptah- oh, I must get back!' Before he could stop her
she had turned and fled out of the house.
12
The Grim Prophecy
In one spring Rex was across the room, another and he had reached
the garden. Against those long legs of his Tanith had no chance.
Before she had covered twenty yards he caught her arm and jerked her
round to face him.
'Let me go!' she panted. 'Haven't you endangered me enough with
your lies and interference.'
He smiled down into her frightened face but made no motion to
release her. 'I'm awfully sorry I had to tell you all those
tarradiddles to get you to this place-but now you're here you're
going to stay-understand?'
'It is you who don't understand,' she flashed. 'You and your
friend, the Duke, are like a couple of children playing with a
dynamite bomb. You haven't a chance against Mocata. He will loose a
power on you that will simply blot you out.'
'I wouldn't be too certain of that. Maybe I know nothing of this
occult business myself and if anyone had suggested to me that there
were practising Satanists wandering around London this time last
week, I'd have said they had bats in the belfry. But the Duke's
different-and, believe you me, he's a holy terror when he once gets
his teeth into a thing. Best save your pity for Mocata-he'll need it
before De Richleau's through with him.'
'Is he-is he really an Ipsissimus then?' she hesitated.
'Lord knows-I don't. That's just a word I picked out of some
jargon he was talking last night that I thought might impress you.'
Rex grinned broadly. All the lying and trickery which he had been
forced to practise during the morning had taxed him to the utmost,
but now that he was able to face the situation openly he felt at the
top of his form again.
'I daren't stay then-I daren't!' She tried to wrench herself
free. 'Don't you see that if he is only some sort of dabbler he will
never be able to protect me.'
'Don't fret your sweet self. No one shall lay a finger on you as
long as I'm around.'
'But, you great fool, you don't understand,' she waved miserably.
"The Power of Darkness cannot be turned aside by bruisers or iron
bars. If I don't appear at the meeting tonight, the moment I fall
asleep Mocata will set the Ab-humans on to me. In the morning I may
be dead or possessed-a raving lunatic.'
Rex did not laugh. He knew that she was genuinely terrified of an
appalling possibility. Instead he turned her towards the house and
said gently: 'Now please don't worry so. De Rich-leau does
understand just how dangerous monkeying with this business is. He
spent half the night trying to convince me of it, and like a fool I
wouldn't believe him until I saw a thing I don't care to talk about,
but I'm dead certain he'd never allow you to run any risk like
that.'
'Then let me go back to London!'
'No. He asked me to get you here so as he could have a word with
you-and I've done it. We'll have a quiet little lunch together now
and talk this thing over when the Duke turns up. Hell either
guarantee to protect you or let you go.'
'He can't protect me I tell you-and in any case I wish to attend
this meeting tonight.'
'You wish to!' he echoed with a shake of the head. 'Well, that
gets me beat, but you can't even guess what you'd be letting
yourself in for. Anyhow I don't mean to let you-so now you know.'
'You mean to keep me here against my will?'
'Yes!'
'What is to stop me screaming for help?'
'Nix, but since the Duke's not here the servants know I'm in
charge, so they won't bat an eyelid if you start to yell the house
down-and there's no one else about.'
Tanith glanced swiftly down the drive. Except at the white gates
tall banks of rhododendrons, heavy with bloom, obscured the lane. No
rumble of passing traffic broke the stillness that brooded upon the
well-kept garden. The house lay silent in the early summer sunshine.
The inhabitants of the village were busy over the midday meal.
She was caught and knew it. Only her wits could get her out of
this, and her fear of Mocata was so great that she was determined to
use any chance that offered to free herself from this nice, meddling
fool.
'You'll not try to prevent me leaving if De Richleau says I may
when he arrives?' she asked,
'No. I'll abide by his decision,' he agreed.
'Then for the time being I will do as you wish.'
'Fine-come on.' He led her back to the house and rang for Max,
who appeared immediately from the doorway of the dining-room.
'We've decided to lunch on the river,' Rex told him. 'Make up a
basket and have it put in the electric canoe.' He had made the
prompt decision directly he sensed that Tanith meant to escape if
she could. Once she was alone in a boat with him he felt that,
unless she was prepared to jump out and swim for it, he could hold
her without any risk of a scene just as long as he wanted to.
'Very good, sir-I'll see to it at once.' Max disappeared into the
domain of which he was lord and master, while Rex shepherded Tanith
back to the neglected cocktails.
He refreshed the shaker while she sat on the sofa eyeing him
curiously, but he persuaded her to have one, and when he pressed her
she had another. Then Max appeared to announce that his orders had
been carried out.
'Let's go-shall we?' Rex held open the french-windows and
together they crossed the sunlit lawn, gay with its beds of tulips,
polyanthus, wallflowers and forget-me-nots. At the river's edge,
upon a neat, white painted landing-stage, a boatman held the long
electric canoe ready for them.
Tanith settled herself on the cushions and Rex took the small
perpendicular wheel. In a few moments they were chugging out into
midstream and up the river towards Goring, but he preferred not to
give her the opportunity of appealing to the lock-keeper, so he
turned the boat and headed it towards a small backwater below the
weir.
Having tied up beneath some willows, he began passing packages
and parcels out of the stern. 'Come on,' he admonished her. 'It's
the girl's job to see to the commissariat. Just forget yourself a
moment and see what they've given us to eat.'
She smiled a little ruefully. 'If I really thought you realised
what you were doing I should look on you as the bravest man I've
ever known.'
He turned suddenly, still kneeling at the end of the boat. 'Go
on-say it again. I love the sound of your voice.'
'You fool!' She coloured, laughing as she unwrapped the napkins.
'There's some cheese here-and ham and tongue-and brown bread-and
salad-and a lobster. We shall never be able to eat all this and-oh,
look,' she held out a small wicker basket, 'fraises des bois.'
'Marvellous. I haven't tasted a wood strawberry since I last
lunched at Fontainbleau. Anyhow, it's said the British Army fights
on its stomach, so I'm electing myself an honorary member of it for
the day. Fling me that corkscrew-will you, and I'll deal with this
bottle of Moselle.'
Soon they were seated face to face propped against the cushions,
a little sticky about the mouth, but enjoying themselves just as any
nice normal couple would in such circumstances; but when the meal
was finished he felt that, much as he would have liked to laze away
the afternoon, he ought, now the cards were upon the table, to learn
what he could of this grim business without waiting for the coming
of the Duke. He unwrapped another packet which he had found in the
stern of the boat, and passing it over asked half humorously:
Tell me, does a witch ever finish up her lunch with chocolates?
I'd be interested to know on scientific grounds.'
'Oh, why did you bring me back-I have been enjoying myself so
much,' her face was drawn and miserable as she buried it in her
hands.
'I'm sorry!' He put down the chocolates and bent towards her.
'But we're both in this thing, so we've got to talk of it, haven't
we, and though you don't look the part, you're just as much a witch
as any old woman who ever soured the neighbour's cream-else you'd
never have seen me in that crystal this morning as I sat in the
lounge of your hotel.'
'Of course I am if you care to use such a stupid old-fashioned
term. She drew her hands away and tossed back her fair hair as she
stared at him defiantly. 'That was only child's play-just to keep my
hand in-a discipline to make me fit to wield a higher power.'
"For good?' he questioned laconically.
'It is necessary to pass through many stages before having to
choose whether one will take the Right or Left Hand Path.'
'So I gather. But how about this unholy business in which you've
a wish to take part tonight?'
'If I submit to the ordeal I shall pass the Abyss.' The low,
caressing voice lifted to a higher note, and the wise eyes suddenly
took on a fanatic gleam.
'You can't have a notion what they mean to do to you or you'd
never even dream of it,' he insisted.
'I have, but you know nothing of these things so naturally you
consider me utterly shameless or completely mad. You are used to
nice English and American girls who haven't a thought in their heads
except to get you to marry them-if you have any money-which
apparently you have, but that sort of thing does not interest me. I
have worked and studied to gain power -real power over other
people's lives and destinies-and I know now that the only way to
acquire it is by complete surrender of self. I don't expect you to
understand my motives but that is why I mean to go tonight.'
He studied her curiously for a moment, still convinced that she
could not be fully aware of the abominations that would take place
at the Sabbat. Then he broke out: 'How long is it since you became
involved in this sort of thing?'
'I was psychic even as a child,' she told him slowly. 'My mother
encouraged me to use my gifts. Then when she died I joined a society
in Budapest. I loved her. I wanted to keep in touch with her still.'
'What proof have you got it was her?' he demanded with a sudden
renewal of scepticism as he recalled the many newspaper exposures of
spiritualistic seances.
'I had very little then, but since, I have been convinced of it
beyond all doubt.'
'And is she-your own mother, still-yes, your guide-I suppose
you'd call it?'
Tanith shook her head. 'No, she has gone on, and it was not for
me to seek to detain her, but others have followed, and every day my
knowledge of the worlds which lie beyond this grows greater.'
'But it's extraordinary that a young girl like you should devote
yourself to this sort of thing. You ought to be dancing, dining,
'You choose a time when the planet was in the 'ouse of Capricorn,
of course?'
'Oh, surely!'
'An' you 'ave not neglect to make Libation to Our Lady Babalon
before'and?'
'Oh, no, we wouldn't do that!'
'Then per'aps your periods of silence were not long enough?'
'Maybe that's so,' he admitted hurriedly, hoping to close this
madhatter's conversation before he completely put his foot into it.
Countess D'Urfe nodded, then after drawing thoughtfully at her
cigar she looked at him intently. 'Silence,' she murmured. 'Silence,
that ees always essential in the Ritual of Saturn-but you 'ave much
courage to thwart Mocata-'e is powerful, that one.'
'Oh, we're not afraid of him,' Rex declared and, recalling the
highest grade of operator from his conversation with De Richleau, he
added: 'You see the Duke knows all about this thing-he's an
Ipsissimus.'
The old lady's eyes almost popped out of their sockets at this
announcement, and Rex feared that he had gone too far, but she
leaned forward and placed one of her jewelled claws upon his arm.
'An Ipsissimus!-an' I 'av studied the Great Work for forty years,
yet I 'ave reached only the degree of Practicus. But no, 'e cannot
be, or 'ow could 'e fail with the Rite to Saturn?'
'I only said that it didn't pan out quite as we expected,' Rex
hastened to remind her, 'and for the full dress business he'd need
Simon Aron anyway.'
'Of course,' she nodded again and continued in an awestruck
whisper, 'an' De Richleau is then a real Master. You must be far
advanced for one so young-that 'e allow you to work with 'im.'
He flicked the ash off his cigarette but maintained a cautious
silence.
'I am not-'ow you say-associated with Mocata long-since I 'ave
arrive only recently in England, but De Richleau will cast 'im down
into the Abyss-for 'ow shall 'e prevail against one who is of ten
circles and a single square?'
Rex nodded gravely.
'Could I not-' her dark eyes filled with a new eagerness, 'would
it not be possible for me to prostrate before your frien'? If you
spoke for me also, per'aps 'e would allow that I should occupy a
minor place when 'e proceeds again to the invocation?'
'Ho! Ho!' said Rex to himself, 'so the old rat wants to scuttle
from the sinking ship, does she. I ought to be able to turn this to
our advantage,' while aloud he said with a lordly air: 'All things
are possible-but there would be certain conditions.'
'Tell me,' she muttered swiftly.
'Well, there is this question of Simon Aron.'
'What question?-Now that you 'ave 'im with you-you can do with
'im as you will.'
Rex quickly averted his gaze from the piercing black eyes.
Evidently Mocata had turned the whole party out after they had got
away with Simon. The old witch obviously had no idea that Mocata had
regained possession of him later. In another second he would have
given away their whole position by demanding Simon's whereabouts.
Instead-searching his mind desperately for the right bits of
gibberish he said: 'When De Richleau again proceeds to the
invocation it is necessary that the vibrations of all present should
be attuned to those of Simon Aron.'
'No matter-willingly I will place myself in your 'ands for
preparation.'
'Then I'll put it up to him, but first I must obey his order and
say a word to the lady who was with you at Aron's house last
night-Tanith.' Having at last manoeuvred the conversation to this
critical point, Rex mentally crossed his thumbs and offered up a
prayer that he was right in assuming that they were staying at the
hotel together.
She smiled, showing two rows of white false teeth. 'I know it,
and you must pardon, I beg, that we 'ave our little joke with you.'
'Oh, don't worry about that,' he shrugged, wondering anxiously to
what new mystery she was alluding, but to his relief she hurried on.
'Each morning we look into the crystal an' when she see you walk
into the 'otel she exclaim, It is for me 'e comes-the tall
American," but we 'ave no knowledge that you are more than a
Neophyte or a Zelator at the most, so when you send up the flowers
she say to me, "You shall go down to 'im instead an' after we will
laugh at the discomfiture of this would-be lover."'
The smile broadened on Rex's full mouth as he listened to the
explanation of much that had been troubling him in the last hour,
but it faded suddenly as he realised that, natural as it seemed
compared to all this meaningless drivel which he had been exchanging
with the old woman, it was in reality one more demonstration of the
occult. These two women had actually seen him walk into the hotel
lounge when they were sitting upstairs in their room peering into a
piece of glass.
'In some ways I suffer the disappointment,' said the old Countess
suddenly, and Rex found her studying turn with a strange,
disconcerting look. 'I know well that promiscuity gives a greaty
power for all 'oo follow the Path an' that 'uman love 'inders our
development, but nevair 'ave I been able to free myself from a so
stupid sentimentality-an' you would, I think, 'ave made a good lover
for 'er.'
Rex stared in astonished silence, then looked quickly away, as
she added: 'No matter-the other ees of real importance. I will send
for 'er that you may give your message.'
With a little jerk she stood up and gripping her ebony cane
stumped across to the hall porter's desk while he relaxed, un
utterably glad that this extraordinary interview was over.
However, he felt a glow of satisfaction in the thought that he
kad duped her into the belief that De Richleau and himself were even
more powerful adepts than Mocata, and at having played his cards
sufficiently well to secure a meeting with Tanith under such
favourable circumstances. If only he could get into his car, he was
determined to inveigle her into giving him any information she
possessed which might lead to the discovery of Simon's whereabouts,
although, since Madame D'Urfe was ignorant of the fact that he was
no longer with the Duke, it was hardly likely that Tanith would
actually be able to take them to him.
With new anxiety Rex realised the gravity of the check. They had
practically counted on Tanith having the knowledge, if only they
could get it out of her, and even if he could persuade her to talk
about Mocata the man might have a dozen haunts. If so it would be no
easy task to visit all before sundown and the urgency of the Duke's
instructions still rang in his ears.
Today was May Day Eve. The Great Sabbat of the year would be held
tonight. It was absolutely imperative that they should trace and
secure Simon before dusk or else, under the evil influence which now
dominated his mentality, he would be taken to participate in those
unholy rites and jeopardise for ever the flame of goodness, wisdom
and right thinking which men term the soul.
After a moment Madame D'Urfe rejoined him. 'For tonight at
least,' she whispered, 'things in dispute between the followers of
the Path will be in abeyance-is it not?-for all must make their
'omage to the One.'
He nodded and she bent towards him, lowering her voice still
further: 'If I could but see De Richleau for one moment- as
Ipsissinus 'e must possess the unguent?'
That's so,' Rex agreed, but he was horribly uncertain of his
ground again as he added cryptically: 'But what of the Moon?'
'Ah, fatality,' she sighed. 'I 'ad forgotten that we are in the
dark quarter.'
He blessed the providence which had guided his tongue as she went
on sadly: 'I 'ave try so often but nevair yet 'ave I
succeeded. I know all things necessary to its preparation, an'
'ave gathered every 'erb at the right period. I 'ave even rendered
down the fat, but they must 'ave cheated me. It was from a mortuary
per'aps-but not from a graveyard as it should 'ave been.'
Rex felt the hair bristle on the back of his neck and his whole
body stiffened slightly as he heard this gruesome confession. Surely
it was inconceivable that people still practised these medieval
barbarities-yet he recalled the terrible manifestation that he had
witnessed with the Duke on the previous night. After that he could
no longer employ modern standards of belief or unbelief to the
possibilities which might result from the strange and horrible
doings of these people who had given themselves over to ancient
cults.
The old Countess was regarding him again with that queer
disconcerting look. 'It matters not,' she murmured. 'We shall get
there just the same, Tanith and I-an' it should be interesting-for
nevair before 'as she attended the Great Sabbat.'
The lift gates clicked at that moment and Tanith stepped out into
the corridor. For a fleeting instant Rex caught a glimpse of her
wise, beautiful face, over the old woman's shoulder, but the
Countess was speaking again in a husky whisper, so he was forced to
look back at her.
'Nevair before,' she repeated with unholy glee, 'and after the
One 'as done that which there is to do, 'oo knows but you may be the
next-if you are quick.'
Forcing himself out of his chair Rex shut his ears to the
infernal implication. His general reading had been enough for him to
be aware that in the old. days the most incredible orgies took place
as the climax to every Sabbat, and his whole body crept at the
thought of Tanith being subjected to such abominations. His impulse
was to seize this iniquitous old woman by the throat and choke the
bestial life out of her fat body, but with a supreme effort he
schooled himself to remain outwardly normal.
As Tanith approached, and taking his hand smiled into his eyes,
he knew that she, as well as Simon, must be saved before nightfall
from-yes, the old biblical quotation leapt to his mind-'The Power of
the Dog,' that was strong upon them.
10
Tanith Proves Stubborn
After the muttering of the old Countess and her veiled allusions
to unspeakable depravities Rex felt that even the air had grown
stale and heavy, as though charged with some subtle quality of evil,
but on the coming of Tanith the atmosphere seemed to lighten. The
morning sunshine was lending a pale golden glow to the street
outside and in her hand she held one of the sprays of lilac which he
had sent up to her. She lifted it to her face as he returned her
smile. 'So I' she said in a low clear voice, her eyes mocking him
above the fragrant bloom: 'You insisted then that Madame should let
you see me?'
'I'd have sat around this place all day if she hadn't,' Rex
confessed frankly, 'because now we've met at last I'm hoping you'll
let me see something of you.'
'Perhaps-but not today. I have many things to do and already I am
late for the dressmaker.'
Rex thanked his stars that the old woman had unwittingly given
him a lever in assuming the Duke to be an Adept of great power, and
himself his envoy. 'It's mighty important that I should see you
today,' he insisted. There are certain things we've got to talk
about.'
'Got to!' A quick frown clouded Tanith's face. 'I do not
understand!'
'Ma petite, it is you 'oo do not understan',' Madame D'Urfe broke
in hastily. Then she launched into a torrent of low speech in some
foreign language, but Rex caught De Richleau's name and the word
Ipsissimus, so he guessed that she was giving Tanith some version of
the events which had taken place the night before, based on his own
misleading statements, and wondered miserably how long he would be
able to keep up the impersonation which had been thrust upon him.
Tanith nodded several times and studied him with a new interest
as she nibbled a small piece of the lilac blossom between her teeth.
Then she said with charming frankness: 'You must forgive me-I had no
idea you were such an important member of the Order.'
'Forget it please,' he begged, 'but if you're free I'd be glad if
you could join me for lunch.'
'That puts me in a difficulty because I am supposed to be
lunching with the wife of the Roumanian Minister.'
'How about this afternoon then?'
Her eyes showed quick surprise. 'But we shall have to leave here
by four o'clock if we are to get down by dusk-and I have my packing
to do yet.'
He realised that she was referring to the meeting and covered his
blunder swiftly. 'Of course-I'm always forgetting that these
twisting English roads don't permit of the fast driving I'm used to
back home. How would it be if I run you along to your dress place
now and then we took'a turn round the Park after?'
'Yes-if you will have lots of patience with me, because I take an
almost idiotic interest in my clothes.'
'You're telling me! He murmured to himself as he admired the slim
graceful lines of her figure clad so unostentatiously and yet so
suitably for the sunshine of the bright spring day. He picked up his
hat and beamed at her. 'Let's go-shall we?'
To his amazement he found himself taking leave of the old
Countess just as though she were a nice, normal, elderly lady who
was chaperoning some young woman to whom he had been formally
introduced at a highly respectable dance. And indeed, as they
departed, her dark eyes had precisely the same look which had often
scared him in mothers who possessed marriageable daughters. Had he
not known that such thoughts were anathema to her creed he would
have sworn that she was praying that they would be quick about it,
so that she could book a day before the end of the season at St.
George's, Hanover Square, and was already listing in her mind the
guests who should be asked to the reception.
'Where does the great artist hang out?' he asked as he helped
Tanith into the car.
'I have two,' she told him. 'Schiaparelli just across the square,
where I shall be for some twenty minutes, and after I have also to
visit Artelle in Knightsbridge- Are you sure that you do not mind
waiting for me?'
'Why, no! we've a whole heap of time before us.'
'And tonight as well,' she added slowly. 'I am glad that you will
be there because I am just a little nervous.'
'You needn't be!' he said with a sudden tightening of his mouth,
but she seemed satisfied with his assurance and had no inkling of
his real meaning.
As she alighted in Upper Grosvenor Street he called gaily after
her: 'Twenty minutes mind, and not one fraction over,' then he drove
across the road and pulled up at the International Sportsman's Club
of which he was a member.
The telephone exchange put him through to the British Museum
quickly enough, but the operator there nearly drove him frantic. It
seemed that it was not part of the Museum staff's duties to search
for visitors in the Reading Room, but after urgent prayers about
imaginary dead and dying they at last consented to have the Duke
hunted out. The wait that followed seemed interminable but at
last'De Richleau came to the line.
'I've got the girl,' Rex told him hurriedly, 'but how long I'll
be able to keep her I don't know. I've had a long talk, too, with
the incredible old woman who smokes cigars-you know the one-Madame
D'Urfe. They're staying at Claridges together and both of them are
going to the party you spoke of tonight. Where it's to be held I
don't know, but they're leaving London by car at four o'clock and
hope to make the place by nightfall. I've spun 'em a yarn that
you're the high and mighty Hoodoo in the you-know-what-a fat bigger
bug than Mocata ever was-so the old lady's all for giving him the go-
by and sitting in round about your feet, but neither of them knows
where Simon is-I'm certain. In fact they've no idea that he made a
getaway last night after we got him to your flat-so what's the drill
now?'
'I see-well, in that case you must. . .' but Rex never learnt
what De Richleau intended him to do for at that moment they were cut
off. When he got through to the Museum again it was to break in on a
learned conversation about South American antiques which was being
conducted on another line and, realising that he had already
exceeded his twenty minutes, he had no option but to hang up the
receiver and dash out into the street.
Tanith was just coming down the steps of Schiaparelli's as he
turned the car to meet her. 'Where now?' he asked when she had
settled herself beside him.
'To Artelle. It is just opposite the barracks in Knightsbridge. I
will not be more than five minutes this time, but she has a new idea
for me. She is really a very clever woman, so I am anxious to hear
what she has thought of.'
It was the longest speech he had so far heard her make, as their
conversation the night before had been brief and frequently
interrupted by Mocata. Her idiom was perfect, but the way in which
she selected her words and the care with which she pronounced them
made him ask suddenly. 'You're not English-are you?'
'Yes,' she smiled as they turned into Hyde Park, 'but my mother
was Hungarian and I have lived abroad nearly all my life. Is my
accent very noticeable?'
'Well-in a way, but it sounds just marvellous to me. Your voice
has got that deep caressing note about it which reminds me of-well,
if you want the truth, it's like Marlene Dietrich on the talkies.'
She threw back her head and gave a low laugh. 'If I believed that
I should be tempted to keep it, and as it is I have been working so
hard to get rid of it ever since I have been in England. It is
absurd that I should not be able to speak my own language
perfectly-yet I have talked English so little, except to foreign
governesses when I was a young girl.'
'And how old are you now, or is that a piece of rudeness?'
'How old do you think?'
'From your eyes you might be any age, but I've a feeling that
you're not much over twenty-two.'
'If I were to live I should be twenty-four next January.'
'Come now,' he protested, laughing, 'what a way to put it, that's
only a matter of nine months and no one could say you don't look
healthy.'
'I am,' she assured him gravely, 'but let us not talk of death.
Look at the colour of those rhododendrons. They are so lovely.'
'Yes, they've jerked this Park up no end since I first saw it as
a boy.' As the traffic opened he turned the car into Knightsbridge
and two minutes later Tanith got out at the discreet door of her
French dressmaker.
While she was inside Rex considered the position afresh, and
endeavoured to concoct some cryptic message purporting to come from
the Duke, to the effect that she was not to attend the Sabbat but to
remain in his care until it was all over, Yet he felt that she would
never believe him. It was quite evident that she meant to be present
at this unholy Walpurgis-Nacht gathering, and from what the old
woman had said all Satanists regarded it with such importance that
even warring factions among them sank their differences-for this one
night of the year-in order to attend.
Obviously she could have no conception of what she was letting
herself in for, but the very idea of her being mishandled by that
ungodly crew made his big biceps tighten with the desire to lash out
at someone. He had got to keep her with him somehow, that was
clear-but how?
He racked his mind in vain for a plausible story but, to his
dismay, she rejoined him almost immediately and he had thought of
nothing by the time they had turned into the Park again.
'Well-tell me,' she said softly.
Tell you what?' he fenced. 'That I think you're very lovely?'
'No, no. It is nice that you should have troubled to make pretty
speeches about my accent and Marlene Dietrich, but it is time for
you to tell me now of the real reason that brought you to Claridges
this morning.'
'Can't you guess?'
'No.'
'I wanted to take you out to lunch.'
'Oh, please! Be serious-you have a message forme?'
'Maybe, but even if I hadn't, I'd have been right on the mat at
your hotel just the same.'
She frowned slightly. 'I don't understand. Neither of us is free
to give our time to that sort of thing.'
'I've reached a stage where I'm the best judge of that,' he
announced, with the idea of trying to recover some of the prestige
which seemed to be slipping from him.
'Have you then crowned yourself with the Dispersion of Choronzon
already?'
Rex suppressed a groan. Here they were off on the Mumbo Jumbo
stuff again. He felt that he would never be able to keep it up, so
instead of answering he turned the car with sudden determination out
into the Kensington Road and headed towards Hammersmith.
'Where are you taking me?' she asked quickly.
To lunch with De Richleau,' he lied. 'I've got no message for you
but the Duke sent me to fetch you because he wants to talk to you
himself.' It was the only story he could think of which just might
get over.
'I see-where is he?'
'At Pangbourne.'
'Where is that?'
'Little place down the Thames-just past Reading.'
'But that is miles away!'
'Only about fifty.'
'Surely he could have seen me before he left London.'
He caught her eyes, quick with suspicion, on his face, so he
answered boldly: 'I know nothing of that, but he sent me to fetch
you-and what the Duke says goes.'
'I don't believe you!' she exclaimed angrily. 'Stop this car at
once! -I am going to get out.'
11
The Truth Will Always Out
For a second Rex thought of ignoring her protest and jamming his
foot on the accelerator, but the traffic in Kensington High Street
was thick, and to try to abduct her in broad daylight would be sheer
madness. She could signal a policeman and have him stopped before
he'd gone two hundred yards.
Reluctantly he drew hi to the side of the road, but he stretched
his long arm in front of her and gripped the door of the car so that
she could not force it open.
Tanith stared at him with angry eyes: 'You are lying to me -I
will not go with you.'
'Wait a moment.' He thrust out his chin pugnaciously while he
mustered all his resources to reason with her. If he once let her
leave the car the chances were all against his having another
opportunity to prevent her reaching the secret rendezvous where
those horrible Walpurgis ceremonies would take place in the coming
night. His determination to prevent her participating in those
barbaric rites, of which he was certain she could not know the real
nature, quickened his brain to an unusual cunning: 'You know what
happened to Simon Aron?' he said.
'Yes, you kidnapped him from his own home last night.'
'That's so-but do you know why?'
'Madame D'Urfe said that it was because the Duke is also seeking
for the Talisman of Set. You needed him for your own invocations.'
'Exactly.' Rex paused for a moment to wonder what the Talisman
could be. This was the second time he had heard it mentioned. Then
he went on slowly: 'It's him being born under certain stars makes
his presence essential. We'd hunt for years before we found anyone
else who's suitable to do the business and born in the same hour of
the same day and year. Well, we need you too.'
'But my number is not eight!'
'That doesn't matter-you're under the Moon, aren't you?' He
risked the shot on what he remembered of De Richleau's words about
her name.
'Yes,' she admitted. 'But what has that to do with it?'
'A whole heap-believe you me. But naturally you'd know nothing of
that. Even Mocata doesn't realise the importance of the Moon in this
thing and that's why he's failed to make much headway up to date.'
'Mocata would be furious if I left his Circle-you see I am his
favourite medium-so attuned to his vibrations that he would have the
very greatest difficulty in replacing me. Perhaps -perhaps he would
punish me in some terrible manner.' Tanith's face had gone white and
her eyes were staring slightly at the thought of some nameless evil
which might befall her.
'Don't worry. De Richleau will protect you-and he's an Ipsissimus
remember. If you don't come right along, now he wants to see you,
maybe he'll do something to you that'll be far worse.' As Rex lied
and threatened he hated himself for it, but the girl had just got to
be saved from herself and this form of blackmail was the only line
that offered.
'How am I to know? How am I to know?' she repeated quickly. 'You
may be lying. Think what might happen to me if Mocata proved the
stronger.'
'You had the proof last night. We got Simon Aron away from under
his very nose-didn't we?'
'Yes, but will you be able to keep him?'
'Sure,' Rex declared firmly, but he felt sick with misery as he
remembered that by Mocata's power Simon had been taken from them
under the hour. And where was Simon now? The day was passing, their
hope of Tanith being able to put them on his track had proved a
failure. How would they find him in time to save him too from the
abominations of the coming night?
'Oh, what shall I do?' Tanith gave a little nervous sob. 'It is
the first tune I have heard of any feud in our Order. I thought that
if I only followed the Path I should acquire power and now this
hideously dangerous decision is thrust on me.'
Rex saw that she was weakening so he pressed the self-starter.
'You're coming with me and you're not going to be frightened of
anything. Get that now-I mean it.'
She nodded. 'All right. I win trust you then,' and the car slid
into motion.
For a few moments they sat in silence, then as the car entered
Hammersmith Broadway he turned and smiled at her. 'Now let's cut out
all talk about this business till we see the Duke and just be
normal-shall we?'
'If you wish-tell me about yourself?'
He smothered a sigh of relief at her acquiescence. At least he
would be free for an hour or so from the agonising necessity of
skating on thin ice of grim parables which had no meaning for him.
With all his natural gaiety restored he launched into an account of
his life at home in the States, his frequent journeys abroad, and
his love of speed in cars and boats and planes and bob-sleighs.
As they sped through Brentford and on to Slough he got her to
talk a little about herself. Her English father had died when she
was still a baby and the Hungarian mother had brought her up. All
her childhood had been spent in an old manor house, dignified by the
name of Castle, in a remote village on the southern slopes of the
Carpathians, shut in so completely from the world by steep mountains
on every side that even the War had passed it by almost unnoticed.
After the peace and the disintegration of the Austrian-Hungarian
Empire their lands had become part of the new state of Jugo-Slavia,
but her life had gone on much the same for, although the War had
cost them a portion of their fortune, the bulk of it had been left
safe by her father in English Trustee securities. Her mother had
died three years before and it was then, having no personal ties and
ample money, that she had decided to travel. 'Isn't it just
marvellous that I should have seen you such
different places about the world,' he laughed.
'The first time that you speak of in Budapest I do not remember,'
she replied, 'but I recall the day outside Buenos Aires well. You
were in a long red car and I was riding a roan mare. As you drew
into the side of the track to let us pass I wondered why I knew your
face, and then I remembered quite clearly that our cars had been
locked side by side in a traffic jam, months before, in New York.'
'Seems as if we were just fated to meet sometime-doesn't it?'
'We both know that there is no such thing as Chance,' she said
slowly. 'I believe you have a wax image of me somewhere and have
worked upon it to bring today about.'
The day before he would have instantly assumed her to be joking,
despite her apparent seriousness, but now, he realised with a little
shock, he no longer considered it beyond the bounds of possibility
that actual results might be procured by doing certain curious
things to a little waxen doll, so greatly had his recent experiences
altered his outlook. He hesitated, unable to confess his ignorance
of such practices, and unwilling to admit that he had not done his
best to bring about a meeting, but he was saved from the necessity
of a reply by Tanith suddenly exclaiming:
'I had forgotten!-luncheon-I shall never be back in time.'
'Easy, put through a call and say you've suddenly been called out
of Town,' he told her, and a few miles farther on he pulled up at
Skindles Hotel in Maidenhead.
While Tanith was telephoning he stood contemplating the river.
Although it was early in the year a period of drought had already
checked the spate of the current sufficiently to make boating
pleasureable, and he noted that in the gardens of the Hungaria River
Club, on the opposite bank, they were setting out their gay
paraphernalia preparatory to opening for the Season. Immediately
Tanith rejoined him they set off again.
The straggling suburbs of Greater London had already been left
behind them before Slough and now, after Maidenhead, the scattered
clusters of red-roofed dwellings on the new building estates, which
have spread so far afield, also disappeared, giving place to the
real country. On certain portions of the road, the fresh green of
the beech trees formed a spring canopy overhead and between their
trunks, dappled with sunlight, patches of bluebells gave glory to
the silent woods; at others they ran between meadows where lazy
cattle nibbled the new grass, or fields where the young corn, strong
with life, stretched its vivid green shoots upwards to the sun.
The sight and smell of the countryside, unmarred by man or
carefully tended in his interests, windswept and clean, gave Rex
fresh confidence. He banished his anxiety about Simon for the moment
and, thrusting from his mind all thoughts of this gruesome business
into which he had been drawn, began to talk all the gay nonsense to
Tanith which he would have aired to any other girl whom he had
induced to steal a day out of London in which to see the country
preparing its May Day garb.
Before they reached Reading he had her laughing, and by the time
they entered the little riverside village of Pangbourne, her pale
face was flushed with colour and her eyes dancing with new light.
They crossed to the Whitchurch side where the Duke's house stood,
some way back from the river, its lawns sloping gently to the
water's edge.
Max received them, and while a maid took Tanith upstairs to wash,
Rex had a chance to whisper quick instructions to him.
When she entered the low, old-fashioned lounge with its wide
windows looking out over the tulip beds to the trees on the further
bank she found Rex whistling gaily. He was shooting varying
proportions of liquor out of different bottles into a cocktail
shaker. Max stood beside him holding a bowl of ice.
'Where is the Duke?' she asked, with a new soberness in her
voice.
He had been waiting for the question, and keeping his face
averted answered cheerfully: 'He's not made it yet-what time are you
expecting him, Max?'
'I should have told you before, sir. His Excellency telephoned
that I was to present his excuses to the lady, and ask you, sir, to
act as host in his stead. He has been unavoidably detained, but
hopes to be able to join you for tea.'
'Well, now, if that isn't real bad luck!' Rex exclaimed
feelingly. 'Never mind, we'll go right in to lunch the moment it's
ready.' He tasted the concoction which he had been beating up with a
large spoon and added: 'My! that's good!'
'Yes, sir-in about five minutes, sir,' Max bowed gravely and
withdrew.
Rex knew that there was trouble corning but he presented a glass
of the frothing liquid with a steady hand. 'Never give a girl a
large cocktail,' he cried gaily, 'but plenty of 'em. Make 'em strong
and drink 'em quick-come on now! It takes a fourth to make an
appetite- Here's to crime!'
But Tanith set down the glass untasted. All the merriment had
died out of her eyes and her voice was full of a fresh anxiety as
she said urgently: 'I can't stay here till tea-time- don't you
realise that I must leave London by four o'clock.'
It was on the tip of his tongue to say, 'Where is this place
you're going to?' but he caught himself in time and substituted:
'Why not go from here direct?' Then he prayed silently that the
secret meeting place might not be on the other side of London.
Her face lightened for a moment. 'Of course, I forgot that you
were going yourself, and the journey must be so much shorter from
here. If you could take me it seems stupid to go all the way back to
London-but what of Madame D'Urfe- she expects me to motor down with
her-and I must have my clothes.'
'Why not call her on the phone. Ask her to have your stuff packed
up and say we'll meet her there. You've got to see the Duke, and
whatever happens he'll turn up here because he and I are going down
together.'
She nodded. 'If I am to place myself under his protection it is
vital that I should see him before the meeting, for Mocata has eyes
hi the ether and will know that I am here by now.'
'Come on then!' He took her hand and pulled her to her feet.
'Well get through to Claridges right away.'
Tanith allowed him to lead-her out into the hall and when he had
got the number he left her at the telephone. Then he returned to the
lounge, poured himself another cocktail and began to do a gay little
dance to celebrate his victory. He felt that he had got her now,
safe for the day, until the Duke turned up. Then trust De Richleau
to get something out of her which would enable them to get on
Simon's track after all.
At his sixth pirouette he stopped suddenly. Tanith was standing
in the doorway, her face ashen, her big eyes blazing with a mixture
of anger and fear.
'You have lied to me,' she stammered out, 'Mocata is with the
Countess at this moment-he got Simon Aron away from you last night.
You and your precious Duke are impostors- charlatans- You haven't
even the power to protect yourselves, and for this Mocata may tie me
to the Wheel of Ptah- oh, I must get back!' Before he could stop her
she had turned and fled out of the house.
12
The Grim Prophecy
In one spring Rex was across the room, another and he had reached
the garden. Against those long legs of his Tanith had no chance.
Before she had covered twenty yards he caught her arm and jerked her
round to face him.
'Let me go!' she panted. 'Haven't you endangered me enough with
your lies and interference.'
He smiled down into her frightened face but made no motion to
release her. 'I'm awfully sorry I had to tell you all those
tarradiddles to get you to this place-but now you're here you're
going to stay-understand?'
'It is you who don't understand,' she flashed. 'You and your
friend, the Duke, are like a couple of children playing with a
dynamite bomb. You haven't a chance against Mocata. He will loose a
power on you that will simply blot you out.'
'I wouldn't be too certain of that. Maybe I know nothing of this
occult business myself and if anyone had suggested to me that there
were practising Satanists wandering around London this time last
week, I'd have said they had bats in the belfry. But the Duke's
different-and, believe you me, he's a holy terror when he once gets
his teeth into a thing. Best save your pity for Mocata-he'll need it
before De Richleau's through with him.'
'Is he-is he really an Ipsissimus then?' she hesitated.
'Lord knows-I don't. That's just a word I picked out of some
jargon he was talking last night that I thought might impress you.'
Rex grinned broadly. All the lying and trickery which he had been
forced to practise during the morning had taxed him to the utmost,
but now that he was able to face the situation openly he felt at the
top of his form again.
'I daren't stay then-I daren't!' She tried to wrench herself
free. 'Don't you see that if he is only some sort of dabbler he will
never be able to protect me.'
'Don't fret your sweet self. No one shall lay a finger on you as
long as I'm around.'
'But, you great fool, you don't understand,' she waved miserably.
"The Power of Darkness cannot be turned aside by bruisers or iron
bars. If I don't appear at the meeting tonight, the moment I fall
asleep Mocata will set the Ab-humans on to me. In the morning I may
be dead or possessed-a raving lunatic.'
Rex did not laugh. He knew that she was genuinely terrified of an
appalling possibility. Instead he turned her towards the house and
said gently: 'Now please don't worry so. De Rich-leau does
understand just how dangerous monkeying with this business is. He
spent half the night trying to convince me of it, and like a fool I
wouldn't believe him until I saw a thing I don't care to talk about,
but I'm dead certain he'd never allow you to run any risk like
that.'
'Then let me go back to London!'
'No. He asked me to get you here so as he could have a word with
you-and I've done it. We'll have a quiet little lunch together now
and talk this thing over when the Duke turns up. Hell either
guarantee to protect you or let you go.'
'He can't protect me I tell you-and in any case I wish to attend
this meeting tonight.'
'You wish to!' he echoed with a shake of the head. 'Well, that
gets me beat, but you can't even guess what you'd be letting
yourself in for. Anyhow I don't mean to let you-so now you know.'
'You mean to keep me here against my will?'
'Yes!'
'What is to stop me screaming for help?'
'Nix, but since the Duke's not here the servants know I'm in
charge, so they won't bat an eyelid if you start to yell the house
down-and there's no one else about.'
Tanith glanced swiftly down the drive. Except at the white gates
tall banks of rhododendrons, heavy with bloom, obscured the lane. No
rumble of passing traffic broke the stillness that brooded upon the
well-kept garden. The house lay silent in the early summer sunshine.
The inhabitants of the village were busy over the midday meal.
She was caught and knew it. Only her wits could get her out of
this, and her fear of Mocata was so great that she was determined to
use any chance that offered to free herself from this nice, meddling
fool.
'You'll not try to prevent me leaving if De Richleau says I may
when he arrives?' she asked,
'No. I'll abide by his decision,' he agreed.
'Then for the time being I will do as you wish.'
'Fine-come on.' He led her back to the house and rang for Max,
who appeared immediately from the doorway of the dining-room.
'We've decided to lunch on the river,' Rex told him. 'Make up a
basket and have it put in the electric canoe.' He had made the
prompt decision directly he sensed that Tanith meant to escape if
she could. Once she was alone in a boat with him he felt that,
unless she was prepared to jump out and swim for it, he could hold
her without any risk of a scene just as long as he wanted to.
'Very good, sir-I'll see to it at once.' Max disappeared into the
domain of which he was lord and master, while Rex shepherded Tanith
back to the neglected cocktails.
He refreshed the shaker while she sat on the sofa eyeing him
curiously, but he persuaded her to have one, and when he pressed her
she had another. Then Max appeared to announce that his orders had
been carried out.
'Let's go-shall we?' Rex held open the french-windows and
together they crossed the sunlit lawn, gay with its beds of tulips,
polyanthus, wallflowers and forget-me-nots. At the river's edge,
upon a neat, white painted landing-stage, a boatman held the long
electric canoe ready for them.
Tanith settled herself on the cushions and Rex took the small
perpendicular wheel. In a few moments they were chugging out into
midstream and up the river towards Goring, but he preferred not to
give her the opportunity of appealing to the lock-keeper, so he
turned the boat and headed it towards a small backwater below the
weir.
Having tied up beneath some willows, he began passing packages
and parcels out of the stern. 'Come on,' he admonished her. 'It's
the girl's job to see to the commissariat. Just forget yourself a
moment and see what they've given us to eat.'
She smiled a little ruefully. 'If I really thought you realised
what you were doing I should look on you as the bravest man I've
ever known.'
He turned suddenly, still kneeling at the end of the boat. 'Go
on-say it again. I love the sound of your voice.'
'You fool!' She coloured, laughing as she unwrapped the napkins.
'There's some cheese here-and ham and tongue-and brown bread-and
salad-and a lobster. We shall never be able to eat all this and-oh,
look,' she held out a small wicker basket, 'fraises des bois.'
'Marvellous. I haven't tasted a wood strawberry since I last
lunched at Fontainbleau. Anyhow, it's said the British Army fights
on its stomach, so I'm electing myself an honorary member of it for
the day. Fling me that corkscrew-will you, and I'll deal with this
bottle of Moselle.'
Soon they were seated face to face propped against the cushions,
a little sticky about the mouth, but enjoying themselves just as any
nice normal couple would in such circumstances; but when the meal
was finished he felt that, much as he would have liked to laze away
the afternoon, he ought, now the cards were upon the table, to learn
what he could of this grim business without waiting for the coming
of the Duke. He unwrapped another packet which he had found in the
stern of the boat, and passing it over asked half humorously:
Tell me, does a witch ever finish up her lunch with chocolates?
I'd be interested to know on scientific grounds.'
'Oh, why did you bring me back-I have been enjoying myself so
much,' her face was drawn and miserable as she buried it in her
hands.
'I'm sorry!' He put down the chocolates and bent towards her.
'But we're both in this thing, so we've got to talk of it, haven't
we, and though you don't look the part, you're just as much a witch
as any old woman who ever soured the neighbour's cream-else you'd
never have seen me in that crystal this morning as I sat in the
lounge of your hotel.'
'Of course I am if you care to use such a stupid old-fashioned
term. She drew her hands away and tossed back her fair hair as she
stared at him defiantly. 'That was only child's play-just to keep my
hand in-a discipline to make me fit to wield a higher power.'
"For good?' he questioned laconically.
'It is necessary to pass through many stages before having to
choose whether one will take the Right or Left Hand Path.'
'So I gather. But how about this unholy business in which you've
a wish to take part tonight?'
'If I submit to the ordeal I shall pass the Abyss.' The low,
caressing voice lifted to a higher note, and the wise eyes suddenly
took on a fanatic gleam.
'You can't have a notion what they mean to do to you or you'd
never even dream of it,' he insisted.
'I have, but you know nothing of these things so naturally you
consider me utterly shameless or completely mad. You are used to
nice English and American girls who haven't a thought in their heads
except to get you to marry them-if you have any money-which
apparently you have, but that sort of thing does not interest me. I
have worked and studied to gain power -real power over other
people's lives and destinies-and I know now that the only way to
acquire it is by complete surrender of self. I don't expect you to
understand my motives but that is why I mean to go tonight.'
He studied her curiously for a moment, still convinced that she
could not be fully aware of the abominations that would take place
at the Sabbat. Then he broke out: 'How long is it since you became
involved in this sort of thing?'
'I was psychic even as a child,' she told him slowly. 'My mother
encouraged me to use my gifts. Then when she died I joined a society
in Budapest. I loved her. I wanted to keep in touch with her still.'
'What proof have you got it was her?' he demanded with a sudden
renewal of scepticism as he recalled the many newspaper exposures of
spiritualistic seances.
'I had very little then, but since, I have been convinced of it
beyond all doubt.'
'And is she-your own mother, still-yes, your guide-I suppose
you'd call it?'
Tanith shook her head. 'No, she has gone on, and it was not for
me to seek to detain her, but others have followed, and every day my
knowledge of the worlds which lie beyond this grows greater.'
'But it's extraordinary that a young girl like you should devote
yourself to this sort of thing. You ought to be dancing, dining,