Chapter 71 p. 7: To Bascou & Baptiste

To. Abbot Bascou.

May 18, 1818.

Dear father,

I hope that in the writing of this letter, you will recall me. I thought we were friends because Etienne was your friend, and I thought I could count you among my own. You promised to come see me, but did not give me that pleasure. I know how you treated that young man. I still have not heard from him, and I am still tormented. Everyone has abandoned me: Baptiste Prieur is no longer staying at the hotel, and the same for his cousin Lomini, so I no longer see anyone to whom I can address my complaints against Etienne, their relative. If by chance you know where he is, I beg you, in the name of our old friendship and religion, be so kind as to speak to him, and guide him to cease his torments of me and restore me to freedom. 

I dare to hope that you will be so kind as to take my request into your consideration, and answer me as soon as you can.

It is my honor to be your servant,

M.B.

This letter remained unanswered, and I do not feel obligated to write another one to the abbey.

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

August 27, 1818 [1]

Dear Sir,

I recently had the pleasure of seeing you, and asked that you give me the address of your brother, Etienne Prieur. You did not know it then, but promised to get it and send it to me in a letter, though first you wanted to see your older brother and consult with him on the subject. And now, it’s the 27th of the month, and I have no news from you. And so I want to remind you of the promises you made me during our conversation. Etienne’s silence also surprises me, he wrote to me from the Amiens seminary on July 7, saying he would be here at the end of the month, specifically to rid me of the nuisances of the physicists who make up this infernal society. 

Why the delay? Why does he break his word, and not come to see me? Does he want me to be constantly tormented, night and day? He knows I never have a moment of rest, and still, he doesn’t want to set me free? 

This is very unfortunate for me. What have I gained from knowing your brother? Far from bringing any relief to my suffering, he only makes it worse.

You told me, sir, that this young man had given me up to Papon Lomini, your cousin, and other people who lived with him; you, yourself, agreed that this was an injustice. Could you just check to see if there is anyone that is unhappy as I am? I await your reply.

Humbly,

M.B. 

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. [2]

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] In v3p364 this letter is clearly dated 10/1/1818, but evidence suggests that  it was sent 8/27/18. 

[2] 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.