Strange Conflict Read Online Free Page B

three years ago there was one in Dover Street, where a woman was flogged to death during one of the ceremonies.’
    De Richleau hammered the table with his clenched fist. ‘These are facts that I’m giving you—things I can prove by eye-witnesses still living. Despite our electricity, our aeroplanes, our modern scepticism, the Power of Darkness is still a living force, worshipped by depraved human beings for their unholy ends in the great cities of Europe and America to this very day.’
    Sir Pellinore shrugged his broad shoulders. ‘I’m quite prepared to take your word for all this, and, of course, I have myself heard from time to time that such things go on, even to an occasional murder the motive for which remains undiscovered by the police. But, quite honestly,I feel that you’re putting an entirey wrong interpretation upon the facts. Such parties are simply an excuse for certain wealthy and very decadent people, of which a certain number exist in every great city, to indulge in deliberately planned orgies where they can give themselves up to the most revolting sexual practices. Such circles are, in fact, very exclusive vice-clubs, generally run by clever crooks who make an exceedingly good thing out of them. I don’t for one moment doubt that you’re right about the trimmings, but in my view the ceremonial part of it is simply a mental stimulant which serves to get these people into the right frame of mind for the abominable licence in which they intend to indulge later the same night when they’ve got their clothes off. I don’t believe that these so-called Satanists could harm a rabbit by exercising supernatural powers in the manner that you suggest.’
    â€˜That is a pity,’ replied the Duke; ‘because this is no question of my endeavouring to convince you that I am right for the mere pleasure of triumphing in a purely academic argument. You came to me this evening with a problem which it is vital that we should solve if we are to get the better of the Nazis. I put up what I consider to be a possible solution to that problem. If you brush it aside as nonsense, yet it later proves that I am right, entirely through your reluctance to accept what may sound a fantastic solution we shall be in a fair way to lose the war, or at least it will be prolonged to a point where grave hardship will be inflicted upon our entire people. Either my theory is a possible one, or it is not. If it
is
possible, we can take steps to counter the menace. Therefore, whether you like it or not, you have laid it upon me as a national duty to convince you that Magic is an actual scientific force and may, therefore, be employed by our enemies.’
    Sir Pellinore nodded gravely. ‘I appreciate your point, Duke, and there can be no question whatever about the sincerity of your own belief or the honesty of your intentions, but if we sat here until the middle of next week you would never succeed in convincing me that anyone could use occult forces in a similar manner to that in which they could operate a wireless.’
    â€˜Oh, yes, I shall,’ replied the Duke, and his grey eyes bored into Sir Pellinore’s with a strange, hard light. ‘Youforce me, in the interests of the nation, to do something that I do not like; but I know sufficient about this business to call certain supernatural forces to my aid, and when you leave this flat tonight you will never again be able to say that you do not believe in Magic.’

3
The Old Wisdom
    Sir Pellinore looked a little startled, then his hearty laugh rang out. ‘Not proposing to turn me into a donkey or anything, are you?’
    â€˜No,’ de Richleau smiled. ‘I rather doubt if my powers extend that far, but I might cause you to lose your memory for the best part of a week.’
    â€˜The devil! That would be deuced inconvenient.’
    â€˜Don’t worry; I have no intention of doing so. I’m happy to say