of that chapter says that Melchisedek, 'without father,
without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of day, nor
end of life, but made like unto the Son of God, abideth, a priest
continually.' In Hebrews 5:6 Paul, quoting Psalm 110:4, says Jesus is
called 'a priest forever after the order of Melchisedek.'

"All this, you see, is obscure enough. Some exegetes recognize in him
the prophetic figure of the Saviour, others, that of Saint Joseph, and
all admit that the sacrifice of Melchisedek offering to Abraham the
blood and wine of which he had first made oblation to the Lord
prefigures, to follow the expression of Isidore of Damietta, the
archetype of the divine mysteries, otherwise known as the holy mass."

"Very well," said Des Hermies, "but all that Scripture does not explain
the alexipharmacal virtues which Dr. Johannes attributes to the
sacrifice."

"You are asking more than I can answer. Only Dr. Johannes could tell
you. This much I can say. Theology teaches us that the mass, as it is
celebrated, is the re-enaction of the Sacrifice of Calvary, but the
sacrifice to the glory of Melchisedek is not that. It is, in some sort,
the future mass, the glorious office which will be known during the
earthly reign of the divine Paraclete. This sacrifice is offered to God
by man regenerated, redeemed by the infusion of the Love of the Holy
Ghost. Now, the hominal being whose heart has thus been purified and
sanctified is invincible, and the enchantments of hell cannot prevail
against him if he makes use of this sacrifice to dissipate the Spirits
of Evil. That explains to you the potency of Dr. Johannes, whose heart
unites, in this ceremony, with the divine heart of Jesus."

"Your exposition is not very clear," Carhaix mildly objected.

"Then it must be supposed that Johannes is a man amended ahead of time,
an apostle animated by the Holy Ghost?"

"And so he is," said the astrologer, firmly assured.

"Will you please pass the gingerbread?" Carhaix requested.

"Here's the way to fix it," said Durtal. "First cut a slice very thin,
then take a slice of ordinary bread, equally thin, butter them and put
them together. Now tell me if this sandwich hasn't the exquisite taste
of fresh walnuts."

"Well," said Des Hermies, pursuing his cross-examination, "aside from
that, what has Dr. Johannes been doing in this long time since I last
saw him?"

"He leads what ought to be a peaceful life. He lives with friends who