Avon Modern Short Story Monthly #36 — page 34: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

g4 er? . ~RAFAEL-~SABATINI came into a vast courtyard and an atmosphere as of mildew, A - studded door stood ajar, and through the gap, froma guiding beacon of infamy, fell arhomb of yellow light, suddenly obscured by a squat female figure when the-steps of the Marchioness and her companions fell upon the stones of the yard. It was La Voisin who stood on the threshold to receive her client. » In the stone-flagged hall behind her the light of a lantern revealed her daughter, Marguerite Monvoisin, and a short, crafty-faced, mis- _~shapen fellow in black homespun anda red wig—a magician named Lesage; one of La Voisin’s coadjutors, a rogue of some talent who exploited the witches of Paris to his own profit. Leaving Leroy—the Marchioness’s male attendant—below in this fellow’s company, La Voisin took up a candlé and lighted Madame de Montespan up the broad stone staircase, draughty and cold, to the ante-room of the chapel on the floor above. Mademoiselle Desceillets - followed closely and fearfully, and Marguerite Monvoisin came last. They entered the ante-room, a spacious chamber, bare of furniture save for an oaken table in the middle, some faded and mildewed tapestries, and a cane-backed settle of twisted walnut over against the wall. An alabaster lamp on the table-made an island of light in - that place.of gloom, and within the circle of its feeble rays stood a ~~ gross old man of some seventy years of age in sacerdotal garmerits of unusual design: the white alb worn over a greasy cassock was studded with black fir-cones; the stole and maniple were of black satin, with fir-cones wrought in yellow thread. His inflamed countenance was of. a revolting hideousness: his chéeks were covered by a network of blue veins, his eyes squinted Anorribly, his lips vanished inwards over toothless gums, and a fringe of white hair hung in matted wisps from his high, bald crown. This ~ was the infamous Abbé Guibourg, sacristan of Saint Denis, an ordained priest who had consecrated himself-to the service of the | — Devil. -He received the great lady with a low bow which, despite herself, she acknowledged by a shudder. She was very pale, and her eyes were dilating and preternaturally bright. Fear began to possess her, yet she ' * suffered herself to be ushered into the chapel, which was dimly illumined by a couple of candles standing beside a basin’on.a table. ® Gomichooks (E(0)