La Bas

Summary The hero Durtal, a mediocre Parisian author, is investigating Gilles de Rais, who was accused in the 15th century of having raped and tortured dozens of children. These researches exert a strange fascination over Madame Chantelouve, who soon falls in love with the writer and becomes his mistress. Faithful to Satan, she teaches him that black masses continue to be celebrated in Paris. Durtal initiates himself to Satanism, converses with his friends of occultism, astrology, spiritism, magic ...