Page:Magician 1908.djvu/83

Rh known for reasons that are plain to the romantic mind. His father was a boot-maker. He was destined for the priesthood, but fell in love with a damsel fair and married her. The union was unhappy. A fate befell him which has been the lot of greater men than he, and his wife presently abandoned the marital roof with her lover. To console himself he began to make serious researches in the occult, and in due course published a vast number of mystical works dealing with magic in all its branches.”

“I’m sure Mr. Haddo was going to tell us something very interesting about him,” said Susie.

“I wished merely to give you his account of how he raised the spirit of Apollonius of Tyana in London.”

Susie settled herself more comfortably in her chair and lit a cigarette.

“He went there in the spring of 1856 to escape from internal disquietude and to devote himself without distraction to his studies. He had letters of introduction to various persons of distinction, who concerned themselves with the supernatural, but, finding them trivial and indifferent, he immersed himself in the study of the supreme Kabbalah. One day, on returning to his hotel, he found a note in his room. It enclosed half a card, transversely divided, on which he at once recognised the character of Solomon’s Seal; and also a tiny slip of paper on which was written in pencil: The other half of this card will be given you at three o’clock tomorrow in front of Westminster Abbey. Next day, going to the appointed spot, with his portion of the