The Devil Rides Out by Dennis Wheatley

Author:Dennis Wheatley [Wheatley, Dennis]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-06-04T16:53:43+00:00

Chapter 22

The Satanist

For a moment Marie Lou hesitated, her eyes round with surprise, staring at the butler. In the last hour she had heard so much about this strange and terrifying visitor, but it had not occurred to her for one instant that she might be called upon to face him in the flesh so soon.

Her first impulse was to send upstairs for Richard, but like many people who possess extremely small bodies, her brain was exceptionally quick. Rex and the Duke were both absent, and, if she sent for Richard, Simon would be left alone-the one thing that De Richleau had been so insistent should not be

allowed to happen. True, she and Richard would have the principal enemy under observation themselves, but he had allies. It flashed upon her that this girl Tanith was one perhaps and had purposely decoyed Rex away to the inn. Mocata might have others already waiting to lure Simon out of the house while they were busy talking to him. Almost instantly her mind was made up. Richard must not leave Simon, so she would have to interview Mocata on her own.

`Show him in,’ she told the butler evenly. `But if I ring you are to come at once-immediately; you understand?’

`Certainly, madam.’ Malin softly withdrew, while Marie Lou seated herself in an armchair with her back to the light and within easy reach of the bell-push.

Mocata was shown in, and she studied him curiously. He was dressed in a suit of grey tweeds and wore a black stock tie. His head, large, bald and shiny, reminded her of an enormous egg, and the several folds of his heavy chin protruded above his stiff collar.

`I do hope you’ll forgive me, Mrs. Eaton,’ he began in a voice that was musical and charming, `for calling on you without any invitation. But you may perhaps have heard my name.’

She nodded slightly, carefully ignoring the hand which he half extended as she motioned him to the armchair on the opposite side of the fireplace. Marie Lou knew nothing of Esoteric Doctrines, but quite enough from the peasants’ superstitions which had been rife in the little village where she had lived, an outcast of the Russian Revolution, to be aware that she must not touch this man, not offer him any form of refreshment while he was in her house.

The afternoon sunshine played full upon Mocata’s pink, fleshy countenance as he went on. `I thought perhaps that would be the case. Whether the facts have been rightly represented to you, I don’t know, but Simon Aron is a very dear friend of mine, and during his recent illness I have been taking care of him.’

`I see,’ she answered guardedly. `Well, it was hardly put to me in that way, but what is the purpose of your visit?’

‘I understand that Simon is with you now?’

`Yes,’ she replied briefly, feeling that it was senseless to deny it, `and his visit to us will continue for some little time.’

He smiled then, and

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