alady?" asked Durtal.

"Nothing simpler. 'Open window burglars' that the physicians of the
present day are, they recognize perfectly the ability of a more skilful
man to pull off such jobs. The experiments of Beaunis, Liegois, Liebaut,
and Bernheim are conclusive: you can even get a person assassinated by
another to whom you suggest, without his knowledge, the will to the
crime."

"I was thinking of something, myself," said Carhaix, who had been
reflecting and not listening to this discussion of hypnotism. "Of the
Inquisition. It certainly had its reason for being. It is the only agent
that could deal with this fallen priest whom the Church has swept out."

"And remember," said Des Hermies, with his crooked smile playing around
the corner of his mouth, "that the ferocity of the Inquisition has been
greatly exaggerated. No doubt the benevolent Bodin speaks of driving
long needles between the nails and the flesh of the sorcerers' fingers.
'An excellent gehenna,' says he. He eulogizes equally the torture by
fire, which he characterizes as 'an exquisite death.' But he wishes only
to turn the magicians away from their detestable practises and save
their souls. Then Del Rio declares that 'the question' must not be
applied to demoniacs after they have eaten, for fear they will vomit. He
worried about their stomachs, this worthy man. Wasn't it also he who
decreed that the torture must not be repeated twice in the same day, so
as to give fear and pain a chance to calm down? Admit that the good
Jesuit was not devoid of delicacy!"

"Docre," Gevingey went on, not paying any attention to the words of Des
Hermies, "is the only individual who has rediscovered the ancient
secrets and who obtains results in practise. He is rather more powerful,
I would have you believe, than all those fools and quacks of whom we
have been speaking. And they know the terrible canon, for he has sent
many of them serious attacks of ophthalmia which the oculists cannot
cure. So they tremble when the name Docre is pronounced in their
presence."

"But how did a priest fall so low?"

"I can't say. If you wish ampler information about him," said Gevingey,
addressing Des Hermies, "question your friend Chantelouve."

"Chantelouve!" cried Durtal.

"Yes, he and his wife used to be quite intimate with Canon Docre, but I
hope for their sakes that they have long since ceased to have dealings
with the monster."

Durtal listened no more. Mme. Chantelouve knew