Chapter 6
ThenonthefifteenthofAprilastrangedevelopmentoccurred.Whilenothingappearedtogrowdifferentinkind,therewascertainlyaveryterribledifferenceindegree;andDr.Willettsomehowattachesgreatsignificancetothechange.ThedaywasGoodFriday,acircumstanceofwhichtheservantsmademuch,butwhichothersquitenaturallydismissasanirrelevantcoincidence.LateintheafternoonyoungWardbeganrepeatingacertainformulainasingularlyloudvoice,atthesametimeburningsomesubstancesopungentthatitsfumesescapedovertheentirehouse.TheformulawassoplainlyaudibleinthehalloutsidethelockeddoorthatMrs.Wardcouldnothelpmemorizingitasshewaitedandlistenedanxiously,andlateronshewasabletowriteitdownatDr.Willett’srequest.Itranasfollows,andexpertshavetoldDr.Willettthatitsverycloseanaloguecanbefoundinthemysticwritingsof"EliphasLevi",thatcrypticsoulwhocreptthroughacrackintheforbiddendoorandglimpsedthefrightfulvistasofthevoidbeyond:
’PerAdonaiEloim,AdonaiJehova,
AdonaiSabaoth,MetratonOnAglaMathon,
verbumpythonicum,mysteriumsalamandrae,
conventussylvorum,antragnomorum,
daemoniaCoeliGad,Almonsin,Gibor,Jehosua,
Evam,Zariatnatmik,veni,veni,veni.’
Thishadbeengoingonfortwohourswithoutchangeorintermissionwhenoveralltheneighborhoodapandemoniachowlingofdogssetin.