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I couldn't waste any more time。 I had to read what was inside the letter。 I sat down and unfolded the pages immediately。
Marius；
Let these words not move you to anger or to hasty decision。 What I know of Pandora is as follows。 She has been seen by those of us who are knowledgeable in such things in the cities of Nuremberg； Vienna； Prague and Gutenberg。 She travels in Poland。 She travels in Bavaria。
She and her panion are most clever； seldom disturbing the human population through which they move； but from time to time they set foot in the royal courts of certain kingdoms。 It is believed by those who have seen them that they take some delight in danger。
Our archives are filled with accounts of a black carriage that travels by day； porting within two huge enameled chests in which these creatures are presumed to sleep； protected by a small garrison of pale…skinned human guards who are secretive； ruthless and devoted。
Even the most benign or clever approach to these human guards is followed by certain death as some of our members have learnt for themselves when seeking to penetrate the mystery of these dark travelers。
It is the judgment of some among us here that the guards have received a small portion of the power so generously enjoyed by their master and mistress； thus binding them irrevocably to Pandora and her panion。
Our last sighting of the pair was in Poland。 However these beings travel very fast and remain in no one place for any given length of time； and indeed seem more than content to move back and forth across the length and breadth of Europe ceaselessly。
They have been known to go back and forth in Spain and to travel throughout France； but never to linger in Paris。 As regards this last city； I wonder if you know why they do not stay there long； or if I must be the one to enlighten you。
I shall tell you what I know。 In Paris； now； there exists a great dedicated group of the species which we both understand； indeed； so large a group that one must doubt that even Paris can content them。 And having received into our arms one desperate infidel from this group we have learnt much of how these unusual Parisian creatures characterize themselves。
I cannot mit to parchment what I know of them。 Let me only say that they are possessed of a surprising zeal； believing themselves to serve God Himself with their strenuous appetite。 And should others of the same ilk venture into their domain they do not hesitate to destroy them； declaring them to be blasphemers。
This infidel of which I speak has averred more than once that his brothers and sisters were among those who participated in your great loss and injury。 Only you can confirm this for me； as I do not know what is madness here or boasting； or perhaps a blending of the two； and you can well imagine how confounded we are to have one so loquacious and hostile beneath our roof； so eager to answer questions and so frightened to be left unguarded。
Let me also add that piece of intelligence which may matter to you as much now as any which I have pertaining to your lost Pandora。
He who guides this voracious and mysterious band of Paris creatures is none other than your young panion from Venice。
Won over by discipline； fasting； penance and the loss of his former Master…so says this young infidel…your old panion has proved to be a leader of immeasurable strength and well capable of driving out any of his kind who seek to gain a foothold in Paris。
Would that I could tell you more of these creatures。 Allow me to repeat what I have suggested above。 They believe themselves to be in the service of Almighty God。 And from this principle； a considerable number of rules follow。
Marius； I cannot imagine how this information will affect you。 I write here only that of which I am most certain。
Now； allow me to play an unusual role； given our respective ages。
Whatever your response to my revelations here； under no circumstances travel overland North to see me。 Under no circumstances travel overland North to find Pandora。 Under no circumstances travel overland North to find your young panion。
I caution you on all these accounts for two reasons。 There are at this time； as you must surely know； wars all over Europe。 Martin Luther has fomented much unrest。 And in England； our sovereign Henry VIII has declared himself independent of Rome； in spite of much resistance。
Of course we at Lorwich are loyal to our King and his decisions earn only our respect and honor。
But it is no time to be traveling in Europe。
And allow me to warn you on another account which may surprise you。 Throughout Europe now there are those who are willing to persecute others for witchcraft on slender reasons； that is； a superstition regarding witches reigns in villages and towns； which even one hundred years ago would have been dismissed as ridiculous。
You cannot allow yourself to travel overland through such places。 Writings as to wizards； Sabbats and Devil worship cloud human philosophy。
And yes； I do fear for Pandora that she and her panion take no seeming notice of these dangers； but it has been municated to us many times that though she travels overland； she travels very swiftly。 Her servants have been known to purchase fresh horses twice or three times within a day； demanding only that the animals be of the finest quality。
Marius； I send you my deepest good wishes。 Please write to me again as soon as possible。 There are so many questions I wish to ask you。 I dare not do so in this letter。 I do not know if I dare at all。 Let me only express the wish and hope for your invitation。
I must confess to you that I am the envy of my brothers and sisters that I have received your munication。 I shall not let my head be turned by this。 I am in awe of you and with justification。
Yours in the Talamasca；
Raymond Gallant。
…
At last I sat back on the bench； the many sheaves of parchment trembling in my left hand； and I shook my head； hardly knowing what I might say to myself； for my thoughts were all a brew。
Indeed； since the night of the disaster in Venice； I had frequently been at a loss for private words； and never did I know it as keenly as now。
I looked down at the pages。 My right fingers touched various words； and then I drew back； shaking my head again。
Pandora； circling Europe； within my grasp but perhaps eternally beyond it。
And Amadeo； won over to the creed of Santino and sent to establish it in Paris！ Oh； yes； I could envision it。
There came back to me once more the vivid image of Santino that night in Rome； in his black robes； his hair so vainly clean as he approached me and pressed me to e with him to his wretched catab。
And here lay the proof now that he had not destroyed my beautiful child； rather he had made of him a victim。 He had won him over； he had taken Amadeo to himself！ He had more utterly defeated me than ever I had dreamt。
And Amadeo； my blessed and beautiful pupil； had gone from my uncertain tutelage to that perpetual gloom。 And yes； oh； yes； I could imagine it。 Ashes。 I tasted ashes。
A cold shudder ran through me。
I crushed the pages to myself。
Then quite suddenly I became aware that； beside me sat the gray…haired priest； looking at me； very calm as he leaned on his left elbow。
Again I shook my head。 I folded the pages of the letter to make of them a packet that I might carry with me。
I looked into his gray eyes。
〃Why don't you run from me？〃 I asked。 I was bitter and wanted to weep but this was no place for it。
〃You're in my debt；〃 he said softly。 〃Tell me what you are； if only so that I may know if I've lost my soul by serving you。〃
〃You haven't lost your soul；〃 I said quickly； my wretchedness too plain in my voice。 〃Your soul has nothing to do with me。〃 I took a deep breath。 〃What did you make of what you read in my letter？〃
〃You're suffering；〃 he said； 〃rather like a mortal man； but you aren't mortal。 And this one in England； he is mortal； but he isn't afraid of you。〃
〃This is true；〃 I said。 〃I suffer； and I suffer for one has done me wron