Gregory, like most people in this modern world, was; extremely sceptical about the age-old belief that the stars influenced one's fortunes. That the doctor had hypnotized Khurrem with such surprising results still seemed to him to: come within scientific acceptance; whereas he associated attempts to predict the future with charlatans who got money out of the credulous by gazing into crystals, telling the cards and suchlike dubious activities. None the less, it would obviously have been bad policy to offend his host, so he said:
`For this purpose I assume you propose to cast our Horoscopes. If so, we should be most grateful to you.'
`Let us proceed, then.' The doctor took some sheets of foolscap from a drawer in his desk, picked up his pen and began to ask Gregory a long series of questions, including his birth date, his age and the exact spelling of his name. Having written down the answers in a small, neat hand, he put the same questions to Kuporovitch who, with some reluctance, but on Gregory's insistence, gave his real names. When Malacou had done he addressed both of them:
`You must not expect to receive overnight the results of the information you have given me. The influence of every planet that was above the horizon at your birth dates has to be taken into consideration, and the attributes of some at times conflict with those of others. Careful judgement and prolonged thought are, therefore, necessary before one can make a final assessment of the effect each planet may have upon your fortunes when it is in the ascendant. But it will repay you well to await my advice; so do not become impatient.'
`Is it likely to take more than a few days?' Gregory enquired.
`No. In the meantime you can be getting to know Herr Hauff, Willi von Altern and the more important people who live in the village, all of whom may later prove of use to you. I take it that the papers you carry are proof against any routine inspection?'
Gregory nodded. `Yes, they show me to have returned from garrison duties in Norway and are good for an indefinite period.'
`How is that, when leave normally extends only for a fortnight?'
`Mine show me to be on sick leave, and that I am suffering from heart trouble.'
`While here as our guest, unless you commit some foolish act that draws attention to you, it is most unlikely that your account of yourself will be called in question. But should such a situation arise, and the authorities order you to go before a medical board, that might prove your undoing.'
`No, no!' Gregory laughed, `I am too old a soldier to be caught out that way. In the First World War quite a number of men faked heart trouble by chewing cordite in order to escape from the horrors of the Western Front. It causes the heart to flutter. I have several strings of it on me and I should masticate one of them before I was examined.'
`Excellent. And, of course, as your soldier servant, Mr. Kuporovitch will be able to remain here as long as you do.'
Having refilled their glasses, Malacou went on, `Now we have talked enough of our business for tonight. As you must know, the accounts of the progress of the war put out by Hen Goebbels' Ministry are very far from being accurate. By performing elaborate ceremonies my powers as an occultist enable me to learn the truth and, at times, secure glimpses of the future; so there are occasions when I know that battles reported by German propaganda as victories are, in fact, defeats. But to secure such information regularly through supernatural channels would require more time than I can give so tell us please the latest news about the war.'
For the hour that followed Gregory did most of the talking, while Khurrem listened in silence and the doctor put in an occasional question or shrewd comment. Then he returned their pistols to them, they shook hands with him and he let them out himself. Khurrem led them back to the Manor and, shortly after midnight, they went up to their respective rooms.
It had been a long and anxious day for Gregory, but, with us usual resilience, he had by then recovered from the two; periods of acute strain he had been through. Knowing nothing bout the occult and never having even attended a spiritualistic dance for fun, he could still hardly believe that he had not been temporarily hypnotized himself and had imagined Malacou's extraordinary performance; but at least he was now idly satisfied that he had nothing to fear from Khurrem or her father and, within a few minutes of getting into bed, in spite of the hard mattress, he was fast asleep.
He had been asleep for about two hours when he awoke suddenly. The sixth sense that had often warned him of danger did him that there was someone in the room. 'Instantly he slipped his hand beneath the pillow and grasped his pistol; but quick whisper came out of the darkness.
`C'est moi, Stefan.'
A shadowy figure advanced from the door and, as Gregory sat up, Kuporovitch seated himself on the end of the bed.
`What is it?' Gregory asked quickly. `Are we in danger?
'No; but I had to see you. Keep your voice low.'
In a slightly querulous tone Gregory murmured, `Very well. but couldn't you have waited until the morning?'
`Dear friend, I am very worried. We must leave this house as soon as possible. There are still several hours to go before daylight, so we could get well away and find somewhere to lie up before dawn.'
`But you say we are in no danger. We've established our-selves here most satisfactorily, so why on earth should we get out?'
`I meant that we are in no immediate danger of betrayal or arrest. But if we remain here we shall imperil our immortal souls. The doctor is a wizard-a Black Magician in league with the Devil. I am certain of it.'
`Oh, come!' Gregory protested. `The Devil was put out of business by modern science. Since the introduction of electricity and telephones nobody has believed any more those old wives' tales of a gentleman appearing to them in red tights, smelling of brimstone and with horns and a spiky tail.'
`You are talking nonsense, my friend. The Devil was a part of the original Creation. To suppose that he could be abolished by the invention of a few scientific gadgets is absurd. People have now become so materialistic that their minds are far less open to the influence of the powers of light and darkness than used to be the case, but that is all. Say if you like that the Devil has gone underground, but he still exists and has his servants working for him here.'
`There may be something in what you say,' Gregory admitted thoughtfully, `and you certainly seem to be well up in the subject. Have you ever dabbled in the occult yourself?'
`Yes; in my youth many Russians did so. But I had an experience that convinced me that I was playing with fire, so I gave it up. By then, though, I had learned enough to be certain now that this man is a servant of the Evil One.'
'What makes you so sure of that? I admit that the way in which he extracted from me, through Frau von Altern, those mental pictures that I could not help forming of Gwaine Meads was positively astounding. But that's no evidence that he is a Black Magician.'
`I doubt if any ordinary hypnotist could have done so. But let that pass. Did you not hear him say to me that it was useless to call upon the Holy Virgin and that one should speak with respect of the Lord of this World? Surely you know that when God commanded Michael and his angels to drive the rebellious Lucifer out of Heaven he gave him the Earth as his Principality?'
`Yes, of course; still…'
Kuporovitch leaned forward and his low voice was intensely earnest. `Believe me, we are in worse peril here than if we were
Being hunted by the Gestapo. Good cannot come out of evil. This man possesses powers that can be bought only by entering into a compact with Satan. Those powers would be withdrawn, should he fail to honour his bond by doing his utmost to; corrupt others. No good can possibly come to us by remaining a this house. To do so is to risk a fate that I would not wish upon my worst enemy.'