Free The Devil Rides Out by Dennis Wheatley Page B

exceptions, and in the highest grades–the Ipsissimus, the Magus and the Magister Templi–those who have passed the Abyss, colour and race no longer remain a bar, so such Masters can work their will upon any lesser human unless he is protected by a power of equal strength. This associate of Mocata’s may be one of the great Adepts of the Left Hand Path. However, what I was really wondering was, is he a human being at all?’
    â€˜But you said you saw him yourself when you paid a call on Simon weeks back.’
    â€˜I
thought
I saw him, so at first I assumed that the Thing you saw tonight was his Astral body, sent by Mocata to prevent our removing his collection of Devil’s baubles; but perhaps what we both saw was a disembodied entity, an actual Satanic power which is not governed by Mocata, but has gained entry to our world from the other side through his evil practices.’
    â€˜Oh Lord!’ Rex groaned. ‘All this stuff is so new, so fantastic, so utterly impossible to me, I just can’t grasp it; though don’t think I’m doubting now. Whether it was an Astral body or what you say, I saw it all right, and it wasn’t a case of any stupid parlour tricks, I’ll swear to that. It was so evil that my bones just turned to water on me in sheer blue funk, and there’s poor Simon all mixed up in this. Say, now, what the hell are we to do?’
    De Richleau sat forward suddenly. ‘I wish to God I knew what was at the bottom of this business. I am certain that it is something pretty foul for them to have gone to the lengths of getting hold of a normal man like Simon but, if it is the last thing we ever do, we’ve got to find him and get him away from these people.’
    â€˜But how?’ Rex flung wide his arms. ‘Where can we even start in on the hope of picking up the trail? Simon’s a lone wolf, always has been. He’s got no father; his mother lives abroad; and he hasn’t even got a heap of relatives who we can dig out and question.’
    â€˜Yes, that is the trouble. Of course he is almost certain to be with Mocata, but I don’t see how we are to set about finding somebody who knows Mocata either. If only we had the address of any of those people who were there this evening we might …’
    â€˜I’ve got it!’ cried Rex, leaping to his feet. ‘We’ll trace him through Tanith.’

7
De Richleau Plans a Campaign
    â€˜Tanith,’ the Duke repeated; ‘but you don’t know where she is, do you?’
    â€˜Sure.’ Rex laughed, for the first time in several hours. ‘Having got acquainted with her after all this while, I wouldn’t be such a fool as to quit that party without nailing her address.’
    â€˜I must confess that I’m surprised she gave it to you.’
    â€˜She hadn’t fallen to it that I wasn’t one of their bunch then! She’s staying at Claridges.’
    â€˜Do you think you can get hold of her?’
    â€˜Don’t you worry, I meant to, anyhow.’
    â€˜You must be careful, Rex. This woman is very lovely, I know, but she’s probably damnably dangerous.’
    â€˜I’ve never been scared of a female yet, and surely these people can’t do me much harm in broad daylight?’
    â€˜No, except for ordinary human trickery they are almost powerless between sunrise and sunset.’
    â€˜Fine. Then I’ll go right round to Claridges as soon as she is likely to beawake tomorrow… today, rather.’
    â€˜You don’t know her real name though, do you?’
    â€˜I shouldn’t worry. There aren’t two girls like her staying at Claridges–there aren’t two like her in all London.’
    De Richleau stood up and began to pace the floor like some huge cat. ‘What do you intend to say to her?’ he asked at length.
    â€˜Why, that we’re just worried stiff about Simon, and that its absolutely imperative