‘What is that book?’ Eva asked.
‘Some say, mademoiselle, it’s the original Apocalypse of John – the Book of Revelation in the New Testament. There is a Cathar legend that Mary Magdalene was the sister of Saint John and that she was the guardian of his book. The Cathars called it the Book of the Seven Seals.’
Rahn’s mind was running through the connections. ‘What’s that town behind Magdalene?’
‘Ah! Well, that is purported to be the New Jerusalem, but some believe it looks like Rennes-le-Château. Have you seen the Tour Magdala? It looks like the tower in the relief. Saunière painted the entire thing himself, with the help of another priest.’
‘And this inscription is not correct either.’ Rahn read it out, ‘Jesu Medela Vulnerum Spes Una Poenitentium. Per Magdalenae Lacrymas Peccata Nostra Diluas – Jesus you remedy against our pains and only hope for our repentance. It is by way of Magdalene’s tears that you wash our sins away. The word “paenitentium” is not only spelt incorrectly, he has also added the word “per” unnecessarily.’
The abbé nodded. ‘Once again, yes, I see your point.’
By way of . . . per . . . tenet . . . Rahn set this aside for later digestion and looked around, feeling hot under the collar. He concentrated, swallowing down his fear. The wallpaper around the altar drew his attention. Something looked familiar . . . and then he was struck suddenly and he saw it, and it was all he could do to keep himself from crying out. There were hundreds of small upside-down anchors entwined with snakes. His head pounded the significance into him. That was the symbol tattooed on the dead man’s wrist!
‘Now, over here, there was once an entrance to the tomb of Sigebert IV,’ the abbé continued.
But Rahn had to take a moment to digest his insight and only managed to say, ‘That’s very interesting.’ He could feel his hands shaking and put them in his pockets.
‘Yes, he was Dagobert II’s son,’ the priest said.
‘A Visigoth tomb – is it possible to see it?’ Eva said, unable to hide the excitement in her voice.
‘I’m afraid no one knows where the entrance is since the renovations.’
‘What a shame,’ Eva said, looking at him with her brown-gold eyes.
‘Oh, but Saunière’s housekeeper is still alive!’ he said brightly, completely under her spell. ‘She might know something. She doesn’t usually talk to anyone but it won’t hurt to ask. In the afternoons she is usually in the conservatory. I will see if she’s available. In the meantime you can have a look in the cemetery – you might find something to interest you there.’
The graveyard lay on the south side of the church and was sequestered behind a wall. To reach it they had to traverse the garden with the Cavalry cross they had seen on their arrival. Rahn breathed in a sigh of relief to be out of that church and welcomed going into the cemetery with a lustful enthusiasm.
‘Did Saunière build this garden too?’ Rahn asked.
‘Oh yes, to commemorate the end of his building works. Bishop Billard himself came to bless the church. In fact, his name is engraved on that plaque below the crucifix.’ The priest led them to an arched portal dominated by a relief of a skull and bones, and unlocked the gate covered in verdigris. Rahn noted that there was a rounded protrusion on this side of the church with a little window high above. It looked like a recent addition. ‘Is that a storeroom?’ he asked the priest.
‘Oh, that’s just the sacristy,’ he said, fumbling for his keys.
Eva frowned. ‘Do you always keep the cemetery locked? What about those who want to visit their relatives?’
‘There are not many who want to, but I’m glad to open the gate for anyone who asks.’
‘But why lock it at all?’
‘To prevent people from . . . digging up the graves.’
She laughed, incredulous. ‘What?’
The abbé gave a sigh. ‘Yes, unbelievable, isn’t it? The lengths to which we must go to prevent the desecration of graves! When it comes to treasure, nothing is sacred.’
‘What treasure are they looking for?’ Rahn asked.
‘Visigoth treasure . . . not far from here, a shepherd fell into a hole in the ground and found a casket of coins dating to the time of the Visigoths. Since then it’s been rather difficult to keep people out of this cemetery because beneath it lies the crypt of the dames.’
‘So, beneath the church were buried the males and beneath this cemetery the females?’ Eva said.
‘That is what the church records say.’