The Sixth Key(28)

He returned to his hotel with Pierre Plantard’s words weighing on his mind. He packed his bags, paid his bill and left by the back entrance to take a taxi to the station where he was due to meet La Dame. As the taxi passed the front of the hotel, Rahn saw a man standing on the pavement smoking a cigarette and looking out at the street. He couldn’t tell if he was the same man he had seen at the café the day before, but something about him looked familiar: he was just an average man, average height, average build.

He found La Dame waiting for him in Le Train Bleu restaurant at Gare de Lyon station, wearing a bored expression. After a moment’s complaint for the lateness of the hour he ordered Rahn a drink and sat back smoking his Cuban cigar with a tense impassivity.

‘Are you going to tell me what happened?’ La Dame said finally.

Rahn realised that La Dame knew almost everything now. What would it hurt for him to know a little more? ‘Apparently Monti was a broker of secrets and he was working to find out something about Le Serpent Rouge for a man called Aleister Crowley—’

‘The beast himself? Surely you know who he is?’ He smiled from ear to ear. ‘He is the notorious magician! A terrible dresser but charismatic – they say he signs all his correspondence with the numbers six-six-six!’

Rahn took a sip. ‘Well, apparently Monti wasn’t getting anywhere in his search for the grimoire and so he decided to mention it discreetly, here and there, hoping to flush out anyone who knew anything about it.’

‘Not discreetly enough, by the sound of it.’

‘So it seems. Anyway, this Pierre Plantard says that Monti made a visit to a town in Languedoc to hunt around and while he was there he met with an abbé. Whatever the abbé told him, it must have caused him to draw the conclusion that the grimoire was incomplete.’

‘Really?’

‘Apparently there is a key missing.’

‘A key?’

‘A formula.’

‘Go on.’

‘Apparently Monti thought this key could be found in Languedoc.’

‘Where did he get that idea?’

‘From me, so it seems.’

‘You?’

‘Yes, from Crusade Against the Grail. Did you ever read it?’

‘Of course!’ La Dame said, seemingly indignant at the accusatory tone in Rahn’s voice.

Rahn put down the brandy to look at him.

A hangdog grin spread over La Dame’s bearded face. ‘To be honest, I only managed the acknowledgements. I wanted to see if you’d mentioned my name – you can’t imagine my disappointment!’

‘I was mindful of your reputation,’ Rahn said.

‘But I haven’t got one.’

‘You illustrate my point quite exactly, dear La Dame!’

La Dame gave him a laconic eye. ‘And what would you say if I told you you’re an opportunist?’

‘I rarely give anyone the opportunity to say such things, except for you, of course, and now that you have, I will respond by saying that I find myself in esteemed and august company!’ He raised his glass.

There was a nod from La Dame, to acknowledge the acknowledgement.

‘So, what happened, did Monti find anything?’ he said.

‘No. After returning from Languedoc he grew afraid. Not long after that he was found dead, and you know the rest, but Plantard isn’t certain who is responsible: rivals; the owner of the manuscript; or perhaps some metaphysical force.’

‘Metaphysical! You mean like a curse?’

‘I don’t know exactly.’

‘What else did he say?’

‘He said De Mengel is working for the English Lodges.’

‘English Masons! A nasty lot! Watch out for them, Rahn.’ He grew thoughtful. ‘So, that is why De Mengel wants you to find this Le Serpent Rouge – so he can deliver it to the English? The scoundrel!’

‘Perhaps, perhaps not.’

‘And what does Plantard say?’

‘Plantard is the one who told De Mengel about me. It seems he is a fan of Hitler and used De Mengel to get me here so I could find it for him. The thing is, Monti never did set his eyes on the grimoire. For all I know, it may not even exist!’

He took out the notebook and gave it to La Dame.

‘What’s this?’

‘It belonged to Monti. It’s full of bits and pieces: appointments; notes to remember; this and that; a list of addresses; the usual sort of thing. But what interests me is what Monti’s written towards the back – my name and references to the grimoire.’

Rahn watched La Dame’s face change from frown to deeper frown.

* 17th January

Reference, Magic ceremonial.

The Grimorium Verum once reprinted in the French language. Based on the Keys of Solomon. Of the Italian version there have been two modern editions, both poorly produced.