Susie shuddered. She remembered the rumour that had reached her ears in
Monte Carlo.
'They said there that he was attempting to make living creatures by a
magical operation.' She glanced at the doctor, but spoke to Arthur. 'Just
before you came in, our friend was talking of that book of Paracelsus in
which he speaks of feeding the monsters he has made on human blood.'
Arthur gave a horrified cry.
'The most significant thing to my mind is that fact about Margaret which
we are certain of,' said Dr Porhoet. 'All works that deal with the Black
Arts are unanimous upon the supreme efficacy of the virginal condition.'
'But what is to be done?' asked Arthur is desperation. 'We can't leave
her in the hands of a raving madman.' He turned on a sudden deathly
white. 'For all we know she may be dead now.'
'Have you ever heard of Gilles de Rais?' said Dr Porhoet, continuing his
reflections. 'That is the classic instance of human sacrifice. I know the
country in which he lived; and the peasants to this day dare not pass at
night in the neighbourhood of the ruined castle which was the scene of
his horrible crimes.
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