Mydeskwasopen，andallmypaperswereonatablewhereIwasaccustomedtowrite。
\"Takethem，\"saidI，totheagentofthedreadfulTribunal，pointingtothepaperswhichcoveredthetable。Hefilledabagwiththem，andgaveittooneofthesbirri，andthentoldmethatImustalsogiveuptheboundmanuscriptswhichIhadinmypossession。Ishewedhimwheretheywere，andthisincidentopenedmyeyes。Isawnow，clearlyenough，thatIhadbeenbetrayedbythewretchManuzzi。Thebookswere，\"TheKeyofSolomontheKing，\"\"TheZecorben，\"a\"Picatrix，\"abookof\"InstructionsonthePlanetaryHours，\"andthenecessaryincantationsforconversingwithdemonsofallsorts。
ThosewhowereawarethatIpossessedthesebookstookmeforanexpertmagician，andIwasnotsorrytohavesuchareputation。
Messer—Grandetookalsothebooksonthetablebymybed，suchasPetrarch，Ariosto，Horace。\"TheMilitary’Philosopher\"（amanuscriptwhichMathildehadgivenme），\"ThePorterofChartreux，\"and\"TheAretin，\"whichManuzzihadalsodenounced，forMesser—Grandeaskedmeforitbyname。Thisspy，Manuzzi，hadalltheappearanceofanhonestman——averynecessaryqualificationforhisprofession。HissonmadehisfortuneinPolandbymarryingaladynamedOpeska，whom，astheysay，hekilled。，thoughIhaveneverhadanypositiveproofonthematter，andamwillingtostretchChristiancharitytotheextentofbelievinghewasinnocent，althoughhewasquitecapableofsuchacrime。
WhileMesser—Grandewasthusrummagingamongmymanuscripts，booksandletters，Iwasdressingmyselfinanabsent—mindedmanner，neitherhurryingmyselfnorthereverse。Imademytoilette，shavedmyself，andcombedmyhair；puttingonmechanicallyalacedshirtandmyholidaysuitwithoutsayingaword，andwithoutMesser—Grande——whodidnotletmeescapehissightforaninstant——complainingthatI