"But come now, you have proofs?"
Gévingey was silent, then, "The subject is so grave and I have gone so far that I had better go the rest of the way.
I am not mad nor the victim of hallucination. Well, messieurs, I slept one time in the room of the most redoubtable master Satanism now can claim."
"Canon Docre," Des Hermies interposed.
"Yes, and my sleep was fitful. It was broad daylight. I swear to you that the succubus came, irritant and palpable and most tenacious. Happily, I remembered the formula of deliverance, which kept me—
"So I ran that very day to Doctor Johannès, of whom I have spoken. He immediately and forever, I hope, liberated me from the spell."
"If I did not fear to be indiscreet, I would ask you what kind of thing this succubus was, whose attack you repulsed."
"Why, it was like any naked woman," said the astrologer hesitantly.
"Curious, now, if it had demanded its little gifts, its little gloves—" said Durtal, biting his lips.
"And do you know what has become of the terrible Docre?" Des Hermies inquired.