Yes," continued Des Hermies, in response to Carhaix's look of astonishment, "yesterday, Durtal, who is engaged, as you know, in writing a history of Gilles de Rais, declared that he possessed all the information there was about Diabolism in the Middle Ages.

I asked him if he had any material on the Satanism of the present day.

He asked me what I was talking about, and wouldn't believe that these practices are being carried on right now." "But they are," replied Carhaix, becoming grave.

"It is only too true." "Before we go any further, there is one question I'd like to put to Des Hermies," said Durtal.

"Can you, honestly, without joking, without letting that saturnine smile play around the corner of your mouth, tell me, in perfectly good faith, whether you do or do not believe in Catholicism ?" "He!" exclaimed the bell-ringer.