"I certainly will," I replied almost enthusiastically, as I pictured myself sitting before a warm fire enjoying Elephantis in a purely philosophical manner. Of course I wanted much more than a library, but I thought it unwise to mention my ambitions at this time. I was not too well acquainted with the Abbe and, after all, it is best not to be too precipitous in confidences.
The Abbe seemed pleased. He insisted on kissing me on both cheeks, after the French fashion.
I wish to say at this time, that though I had performed many brash acts of derring-do in my short life, such as subduing single-handed the Yellow Ant of Fargons (eight feet tall and very deadly in its poison) and facing undaunted the Mystic Mere Woman of the Western Seas, still the bravest moment of my life was when I withstood the toad kiss of the Abbe and did not scream; for I wanted to — oh, how I longed to howl out my fear to the listening owls and scorpions! But of course such conduct would have been unseemly in the future Overlord of Cornwall. So I smiled, and vowed him my vows and told him to be sure not to forget the copy of Elephantis and would he kindly refresh me with more wine before the evening's performance began?
It was later — an eternity of waiting for me, but perhaps only an hour or so in actual minutes — that we fore gathered in a lower room of the castle. A light shone in the room, though where it came from was only one more thing to worry me. Near one wall was a stool, and in front of it a low table, and on that table something tall and round, covered by a square of velvet tapestry. The Abbe sat on the stool while I stood behind him fingering the handle of my favorite dagger, the ivory handle carved in the semblance of a woman. The glistening blade below her naked body had kissed more than one brave man and foul monster to death.
Then from crevices in the wall — yes, perhaps from cracks in the floor, or so it seemed to my fevered fancy — the Brethren came into being and gathered in a semicircle around the table. Their faces were toad-like, similar to the face of the Abbe. There they stood, and I said to my knees, "Remember the honor of the Hubelaires!" and I whispered to my jaws, ”Be silent and remember the bravery of thy grandsire David!” but in spite of these admonitions my knees and jaws castanetted, to my sore dismay.
From the Abbe came a croak, and a low chorus of answering croaks came from the men who stood around me. I looked into their faces and in the shifting, shimmering light saw for a certainty the same toad-like features that had so amazed me what I first saw than in the lace of the Abbe. Before I could properly conceal my astonishment the Abbe took a chalice from a niche in the wall, and, after doing that which seemed rather indecorous, took it in both hands and gave each of the Brethren a drink from it. What the drink was, I, at that time, could only imagine, but later, after deep study of Satanism, I frequently shuddered at my narrow escape that night. Fortunately I was not asked to join in the draining of the cup.
Seating himself on the stool, the Abbe bade me take the cover from of the thing that was both tall and round. I did so, an,d there was a large glass bottle with a giant toad squatting at the bottom. There was no difficulty in seeing every part of this toad, especially his face and eyes. as the glass was of a wonderful clearness. He faced the Abbe- and the eyes of these two, one a daemon-toad and the other a man-toad, glowed ghoulishly at each other. Between them, separated by thousands of years of different thinking, conflicting ambitions, antagonistic personalities, waged a conflict of souls, such as rarely has beer fought on Earth or any other place, so far as I know; though, of course, I am not all-wise concerning the other planets — or this one either, for that matter.
They glared at each other, each striving for supremacy, each trying to destroy the other. I could not see the eyes of the Abbe, but I could dearly see the eyes of the imprisoned toad were shining with supreme confidence. Did the Abbe see in them what I saw?
He must have! For he tried to escape. Three times he endeavored to arise and flee, and each time he was pulled back down on to stool and his face and eyes were drawn closer to the eyes peering at him so derisively through the clear glass wall. Then, with a low moan, the poor man slumped silently forward and even before my eyes he melted, first into a jelly and then into evil, odiferous slime running over the floor, but partly absorbed and held together by the clothing of what had once been the Abbe Rousseau.
As he died, the toad inside the bottle grew larger and assumed human shape. He turned around slowly in the bottle, and, in his turning, looked at each of the Brethren and after that look they stood still, unable to move, and over the face of each dropped the hideous mask of uttermost despair. Now the man in the bottle looked at me. Well, id him look all he wanted to! I was holding fast to my cross and I knew the power of the cork to hold him inside his crystal prison. If his glare became too powerful I could shut my eyes; at least I thought I could.
But those eyes did not try to harm me They seemed kindly and gentle. Then the man raised his arms in the air three times and his lips made three definite and magical movements. Interested and amazed I recalled that appeal for help, having learned it in Araby when I was raised from the grave by the lion's grip, the Lion of the House of Judah. What could the man mean by giving me this sign? Was it a coincidence? An accident? Or was he indeed a frater of mine?
Of course I knew what he wanted, so I pulled out the cork.
He passed through the neck of the bottle and jumped to the floor, a small man dressed in black velvet, with glistening hair aid a most pleasing smile, which in some way warmed my heart and removed much of my apprehension.
He paid no attention to me but passed slowly in front of the toad-faced Brethren and as he passed they moaned in anguish and, falling on their faces before him, tried to kiss his feet. It was this act of adoration that caused me to look at his feet; and, utterly astonished, I saw they were hoofed and hairy, like those of a goat.
Finally he passed all the Brethren and, turning, made a sign, at which their aiding was in all respects like that of the Abbe. They too turned to slime, naught being left on the floor save their clothing and the toad-juice oozing from it. Thai he came to where I was standing, braced against the wall to keep from falling, and he said merrily: "Well, Cecil, my good fellow and rare sib, how goes the evenings?"
"Pleasant enough," I replied, "with first one divertissement and then another. In fact, it has been profitable for me in many ways."
"Lad," he said kindly, gripping me by the shoulder, and in that grip was the warmth of human comradeship, "you showed rare discernment in releasing me from that bottle. Of course I could have broken it, but there was something about your face that pleasured me and I wanted to test you. I found that you also had been in the East, in Araby, and when I asked for help you gave it. These toad-men have worried me for years. I have tried to destroy than, for they hurt my cause, but never till tonight, and then only by outwitting them, could I gather them together in one room. There is only one left, and I do not think he will trouble me. I warrant that the Abbe was surprised. He had experimented and killed many a real toad, but, of course, I was not a toad, just had the appearance of one for the time being. Well, that is over with and I can go back to better and happier occupations. But you really did let me out, and, perhaps, the magic of the cork was stronger than l thought. So I will grant you three requests, my dear sib — ask or anything you desire.”
My heart was in my mouth but, nevertheless, I spoke up bravely.
"Give me the power to conquer all giants, robbers, knaves, salamanders, ogres, serpents, dragons and all evil things, male and female, on, beneath and above Earth wherever and wherever I come into conflict with them."