Maugis, ye sorcerer : $b from ye ancient French : a wonderful tale from ye writings of ye mad savant of ye Maison Maugis in ye olde citie of Mouzon, France

To the Honorable Gentlemen composing the Société d’Ethnographie, Nancy, France. Gentlemen : In the above dedication I have the sincerest regret in committing, what under other circumstances would be an unpardonable insult upon the gentlemen of a learned body, none of whom I have ever had the honor of meeting, but whose position in the world of science and letters I know to be perfectly unassailable. Let me explain. An oath, made to the late Charles Voudran, a former member of your Honorable Society, has compelled this regrettable action, which, otherwise, would have resulted in the loss of a vast amount of rare historical information to the world, as, I trust, a perusal of the following pages, will satisfactorily explain. With the most profound respect, Frederick O’Hoolihan. (LORD GILHOOLEY.) CONTENTS. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE. The Mysterious Door, Frontispiece Interior Cathedral, Mouzon, 12 The Haunted Battlefield, 32 Ancient Gate of Mouzon, 52 Château Montfort, 70 Surprise of the Castle, 76 Old Spanish Houses, 100 Maugis, 120 Charlemagne at the head of his Army, 124 Ye Olde City of Mouzon, 164 Cathedral of Mouzon, 216 Cathedral Door, Mouzon, 244 MAUGIS, YE SORCERER. (A CABLEGRAM.) SEDAN, PROVINCE D’ARDENNES, FRANCE. “To Lord Gilhooley, “Albemarle Hotel, “New York. U. S. A. “The hermit of the Maison Maugis, Monzon, committed suicide to-day. Albert.” Apropos of the above, about ten days later I received a letter from which the following is an extract: “He was found lying, entirely stripped, upon the floor. He had strangled himself with a cord, having previously broken up every article of furniture, gathered and burned in the huge fireplace every object of wearing apparel, all papers and everything movable, until the house was made absolutely bare. His death created a profound sensation, as it was rumored that he had in his possession some very old and curious manuscripts relating to the time of Charlemagne. An elaborate search of the premises failed to disclose anything, except some burned fragments of parchment in the ashes of the fireplace. He had jealously guarded his discovery during his life and was supposed to be somewhat demented, which may account for the lamentable destruction of these precious records. Now you are freed from your oath, give the world what you have.” The past then came back to me, as plainly as if it had only occurred yesterday. I could see in my mind that…