THE RED DRAGON

a sorcerer who knew a great deal, the good women would say while shaking their heads, and who could with a single word turn a mountain into a plain and a plain into a mountain, according to his whim.

The truth is that Simounen (for that was the sorcerer’s name) was a crafty rogue living off the credulity of the peasants who lined his purse with fine coins and provided him with an income through their foolishness.

A good companion and cheerful storyteller, he knew by heart all the carols and all the folk dances of Provence. Simounen was welcomed everywhere with pleasure, though perhaps with fear by some, for his reputation as a sorcerer never failed to cause some anxiety to the weak-minded of the region.

When he appeared in Father Michu’s house, the young women, who knew him well for having bought talismans or charms from him many times, greeted him joyfully.

"Good!" cried Madeloun, a pretty brunette whom Claude had loved for a long time and whom he wanted to marry, without ever having had the courage to tell her, for fear of being mocked. "Good, here is Father Simounen, who is going to tell us a story."

"I won’t say no, little one," replied the shepherd. "What would you like me to tell?"

"Tell us the legend of the Black Hole original: "Trou-Noir". It is very interesting and it is frightening."

"Yes," shouted all the voices, "the legend of the Black Hole!"

"Very well, listen to me, then, and do not make a sound, for I do not like to be interrupted."

The circle of listeners drew tighter around Simounen, and the old man began thus:

It was in the time when Provence was not called