The Demon Hunter

The Capitaine grimaced. "Then the whole province will hear what we only dare whisper in your cloisters."

I nodded. "Indeed. And the paranoia of the populace will treble. They will be seeing demons in every corner and accusing each other of being in league with Lucifer." Visions of the rampaging mob came back to me. I had seen it happen once in my childhood when my best friend's widowed grandmother was accused of practising witchcraft. I did not wish to witness such events again.

"At least," pointed out the Capitaine, "if the creature has any intelligence, such publicity might cause it to flee - leave our town in peace - rather than stay and face officers of the Church."

"But where would it go?" I asked, rhetorically. "And how many more might it slay because we failed to trap and destroy it here?" I shook my head. "No. Let us pray, rather, that Monsieur St. Gabriel arrives with all possible speed."

The Capitaine turned to leave. "You're the priest, Father. I leave the prayers to you while I continue my more mundane investigations. Adieu."

Philippe St. Gabriel did, in fact, arrive, three days later. The tension in Mirecourt was, by that time, almost palpable. The timing of the murders had not escaped the attention of the populace and as Thursday night drew closer, Capitaine le Blanc redoubled his investigative efforts. On the morning of St. Gabriel's arrival, the Mayor, Henri Lafitte, offered a 500 sou reward for the solution of the crime.

The Demon Hunter was a man of medium height and build, dark brown hair, intense black eyes and a western accent. He arrived on horseback, garbed in a hooded grey cloak, his two assistants riding behind. The three men rode straight to the church where, without dismounting, St. Gabriel banged loudly on the door.

Luc answered, peering up nervously at the tall figures silhouetted against the afternoon sun.

"Where is André Dupont?" demanded the Demon Hunter.

Luc pointed inside the church, towards the chancel.

"Fetch him here immediately!"

Luc scurried to obey as I entered the nave, having heard the noise. I approached the door. "I am Father Dupont. And you are...?"

"Philippe St. Gabriel, of course," snapped the other man. "Listen, priest, it's been seven hours since we last ate. Have a hot meal ready for us when we return from seeing the Mayor." He turned to ride off.

"One moment, Monsieur St. Gabriel!" I called. "There are some things we should discuss before you talk to anyone else. Will you not come inside?"

He paused, obviously irritated. "Very well, but be brief." He dismounted, tossing his reins to one assistant, and strode imperiously inside.

I signed to Luc to fetch Capitaine le Blanc, closed the door after him and turned to the Demon Hunter.

He was lounging disrespectfully against the altar by now, knocking the mud from his black boots. I frowned at him as I approached, but he ignored me.

"Monsieur St. Gabriel, your presence in Mirecourt is most welcome..." I began.

"Yes, yes. Get to the point."

"The point is," I said, struggling to control my own irritation, "that I was hoping for some discretion in this matter. I have not made public my suspicions, nor do I wish to. And I have not discussed them with Monsieur Lafitte, our Mayor."