Equinox I (04).pdf

174
THE EQUINOX
(1903). In the month of January he met his old College
friend H. L.
From the very first moment of this meeting H. L. showed
considerable perturbation of mind, and on being asked by
Frater P. what was exercising him, H. L. replied “Come and
free Miss Q. from the wiles of Mrs. M.” Being asked who
Mrs. M. was, H. L. answered that she was a vampire and a
sorceress who was modelling a sphinx with the intention of
one day endowing it with life so that it might carry out her evil
wishes; and that her victim was Miss Q. P. wishing to ease his
friend’s mind asked H. L. to take him to Miss Q.’s address at
which Mrs. M. was then living. This H. L. did.
The following story is certainly one of the least remarkable
of the many strange events which happened to Frater P.
during his five month’s residence in Paris, but we give it in
place of others because it re-introduces several characters who
have already figured in this history.
Miss Q. after an interview asked P. to tea to meet Mrs. M.
After introductions she left the room to make tea—the White
Magic and the Black were left face to face.
On the mantelpiece stood a bronze of the head of Balzac,
and P., taking it down, seated himself in a chair by the fire
and looked at it.
Presently a strange dreamy feeling seemed to come over
him, and something velvet soft and soothing and withal
lecherous moved across his hand. Suddenly looking up he
saw that Mrs. M. had noiselessly quitted her seat and was
bending over him; her hair was scattered in a mass of curls
over her shoulders, and the tips of her fingers were touching
the back of his hand.