conventicle, Master Cairnes," I asked
grimly, "an assembly of crop-eared worshippers, that you venture to
lift your voice in such a howl when you wake? It will be better if you
learn to keep still at such a time, if you hope to companion long with
me."

"You!" he scarcely deigned to lift his eyes to regard me. "You are but
an unbelieving and damned heretic. Had it not been in all the
earnestness of a contrite spirit I besought the Lord in prayer,
wrestling even as did David of old, 'tis not likely the foul fiend I
beheld on yonder crest would have departed so easily. I tell you, you
unregenerated son of iniquity, it is naught save the faith of the
elect, the prayer of the redeemed, which overcomes the wiles of the
Devil, and relieves the children of God from his snares."

It was useless arguing with the fanatic; yet much of my previous
superstitious terror at our unwelcome visitant had already vanished,
there growing upon my mind a firm conviction that the apparition was
not a denizen of the sulphurous regions of the damned, but was composed
of flesh and blood, even as ourselves. I think Madame had been awake
through the greater part of the commotion, as I noted her stir slightly
even when De Noyan first informed me of the strange presence. Yet she
spoke not a word. Realizing her judgment was ever clearer than that of
either of my male companions, I turned to awaken her to some expression.

"And do you also, Madame, believe that we have been honored by a visit
from His Satanic Majesty in person?" I asked, wondering as I spoke that
she should appear so undisturbed in midst of our turmoil.

"It would be less terrifying to me could I so believe," she replied
gravely, her eyes questioning my face, as if to read therein what
answer I desired. "I have that about my person," and I marked that her
fingers toyed with the beads of a rosary at her throat, "which would
protect me from his touch."

"What then did you make of that fantastic figure? I was so gravely
startled myself by the apparition I saw double, scarcely retaining
sufficient strength for the uplifting of a hand. So speak, Madame, and
plainly, for our comforting,--was that flesh and blood, or was it some
ghastly visitant from the unknown?"

"I believe," she answered firmly, "it was human. To my eyes a wild
man, partially arrayed in white skins, decorated with a multitude of
great feathers, appearing ghastly tall, and weirdly distorted in the
moonligh