Mr. Baptiste Prieur, student of Medicine, rue Mazarine, in Paris

September 3, 1818

Dear Sir,

I sent you a letter on August 27th to remind you of the promise you made me on the 24th of the month, regarding your brother, Etienne. However, on the one hand, you have broken your word, and on the other hand, you remain profoundly silent. It seems to me that you would be aware that every letter deserves a reply. I have so often begged Etienne to set me free, and he always eludes his promise, continues to hold me in his power, and asking for aid from you or your cousin Papon Lomini has been futile. Clearly, “promising” and “keeping your promise” are not related in your society. The conduct you have shown me legitimizes all of my complaints. Your behavior goes against the principles and education you’ve received, and the laws of humanity and society. 

Your elder brother, likewise, does not respond to the letters I’ve sent him. It’s clear that all of you have agreed to persecute me. In a visit Papon Lomini paid to me, I learned that before your brother Etienne entered seminary, he had left Lomini some portion of his control over me, and you, yourself, were initiated into his secrets and his control over me. The interest you appeared to take in me was, clearly, deception and lies, I cannot consider you a friend. There is no doubt that you are a part of the magical society; you are only too well informed of the powers wielded by Moreau, Pinel, and the woman Vandeval. The first two represent Pluto and Lucifer, and the latter, Proserpine. It is undoubtedly the Grand Master of the sabbaths, Leonard, who is preventing you from responding to my letters. [1]

Belphegor, ambassador to France, representative of the supreme leader of the infernal empire and founder of the order of the Fly Beelzebub, to whom Etienne had addressed himself to demand my freedom, did not see fit to grant me my liberty. Or perhaps the request was never made. Whatever he may have said, this young man has only abused my trust with his lying promises. His conduct has no other goal than to obtain a higher station from his superiors. 

I have heard nothing more from him. He is neither permitted to see me nor write to me, he has no need of my prayers at Saint Roch, since he is still in the power of Satan. 

Despite all my troubles, and those that may still come, I will never abandon God; it is only from Him that I can expect relief from my suffering. I can hope for nothing from those who have given themselves over to the devil. 

Rest assured, I will no longer bother you with my letters, but I will not be deterred from what I have undertaken and have yet to do. 

Your servant,

M.B.

[1] This is the earliest clearly dated instance of M.B. referencing the hierarchy of the Dictionairre Infernal, and it’s transparent that he IS referencing it. The Dictionairre was first published in 1818, and M.B. acknowledges that he read it and it influenced him. It clearly intensifies his sense of an organized conspiracy against him. Perhaps Etienne read it as well. At this point I can’t find evidence that the Dictionairre Infernal hierarchy exists before the DA, and I imagine that this seemed like a revelation and vindication to M.B. For more information on the Infernal Court, see v1ch2.