“On entering the village, we inquired for the dwelling of the celebrated necromancer, and a guide presented himself to conduct us thither. We soon arrived in front of a yawning cavern which was surrounded by large deep ditches. Our guide made a signal, and immediately a man dressed in red appeared on the opposite side of the ditches, and asked us what we wanted. “‘I wish for a philtre,’ I replied, ‘which will make my beauty last the length of my life.’ “‘And I,’ said the count, ‘wish to see the devil.’ “‘You shall both be satisfied,’ replied the red man, as calmly as if we had asked the most natural thing in the world. Then he lowered a sort of drawbridge across the ditch, and, this crossed, he admitted us into the cavern, where we soon found ourselves in complete darkness. I felt not a little nervous. “‘Do not be afraid,’ said the count to me; ‘I have my sword with me, a dagger, and two pistols; with them I think I can defy all the sorcerers in the world.’ “After proceeding for quite five minutes along underground galleries and passages, we found ourselves in a sort of large circular chamber hewn out of the solid rock. Some resin torches cast a fitful and gloomy glare up into its vaulted roof. At one end of this hall, upon a platform draped entirely in black, was seated a personage in the garb of a magician, who appeared to be waiting for us. “‘That is the Master!’ solemnly said the man in red to us. “And he left us alone in the presence of the great sorcerer himself. “‘Approach!’ cried Perditor, addressing us in a terrible voice. ‘What do you wish?’ “‘I wish,’ murmured I, in a trembling voice, ‘a philtre to preserve to me my youth and beauty all my life.’ “‘Forty crowns. Pay first.’ “Taking out my purse, I laid down five louis, appalled by the defiant fierceness of his tones. The count did not wait for the questioning of the man on the platform. “‘For my part, Sir Necromancer,’ he said, ‘I feel greatly curious to see the devil. How much do you want for showing him to me?’ “‘One hundred livres.’ “‘Peste! At that price what fine benefices you must be able to bestow.’ “The lord of the cavern vouchsafed no reply. He took the money from the count, which he put into a big purse hanging at his side, along with my louis. That done, he laid his hand upon a huge bell, which sounded as loud as the bourdon strokes of Notre-Dame tower-bell. At this signal, which nearly deafened us, two nymph-like young women, fairly pretty, dressed in white and crowned with flowers, rose from the ground near. Perditor pointed me out to them, handed them an empty crystal phial, and then again struck his fearful bell. The nymphs disappeared. I gathered that they had gone to mix my philtre. “‘And now,’ continued the necromancer, turning to us, ‘you are both decided that you will see the devil?’ “‘Very decided,’ said the count. “‘Your name?’ “‘But is it necessary to give it to you, sir?’ stammered I. “‘It is indispensable.’ “‘It is Anne de L’Enclos.’