The Equinox (Volume I, Number IX)

THE EQUINOX “Oh, well!” said the Abbé Charvoz, after another slight hesitation; “I will show them to you.” Then he unbuttoned the top of his black waistcoat and drew forth a little reliquary of silver, before which he fell on his knees, with tears in his eyes, and prayers on his lips; Eliphas fell on his knees beside him, and the Abbé opened the reliquary. There were in the reliquary three hosts, one whole, the two others almost like paste, and as it were kneaded with blood. The whole host bore in its centre a heart in relief on both sides; a clot of blood moulded in the form of a heart, which seemed to have been formed in the host itself in an inexplicable manner. The blood could not have been applied from without, for the imbibed colouring matter had left the particles adhering to the exterior surface quite white. The appearance of the phenomenon was the same on both sides. The Master of Magic was seized with an involuntary trembling. This emotion did not escape the old vicar, who having once again done adoration and closed his reliquary, drew from his pocket an album, and gave it without a word to Eliphas.... There were copies of all the bleeding characters which had been observed upon hosts since the beginning of the ecstasies and miracles of Vintras. There were hearts of every kind, and many different sorts of emblems. But three especially excited the curiosity of Eliphas, to the highest point. “ Reverend sir,” said he toCharvoz, ‘do you know these three signs ?” “No,” replied the Abbé ingenuously; “but the prophet assures us that they are of the highest importance, and that 148