The Tale of Inspector Legrasse

           Theoldermatterswhichhadmadethesculptor’sdreamandbas-reliefsosignificanttomyuncleformedthesubjectofthesecondhalfofhislongmanuscript. Oncebefore,itappears,ProfessorAngellhadseenthehellishoutlinesofthenamelessmonstrosity,puzzledovertheunknownhieroglyphics,andheardtheominoussyllableswhichcanberenderedonlyas"Cthulhu"; andallthisinsostirringandhorribleaconnexionthatitissmallwonderhepursuedyoungWilcoxwithqueriesanddemandsfordata. 

           Thisearlierexperiencehadcomein1908,seventeenyearsbefore,whentheAmericanArchaeologicalSocietyhelditsannualmeetinginSt.Louis. ProfessorAngell,asbefittedoneofhisauthorityandattainments,hadhadaprominentpartinallthedeliberations; andwasoneofthefirsttobeapproachedbytheseveraloutsiderswhotookadvantageoftheconvocationtoofferquestionsforcorrectansweringandproblemsforexpertsolution. 

           Thechiefoftheseoutsiders,andinashorttimethefocusofinterestfortheentiremeeting,wasacommonplace-lookingmiddle-agedmanwhohadtravelledallthewayfromNewOrleansforcertainspecialinformationunobtainablefromanylocalsource. HisnamewasJohnRaymondLegrasse,andhewasbyprofessionanInspectorofPolice. Withhimheborethesubjectofhisvisit,agrotesque,repulsive,andapparentlyveryancientstonestatuettewhoseoriginhewasatalosstodetermine. ItmustnotbefanciedthatInspectorLegrassehadtheleastinterestinarchaeology. Onthecontrary,hiswishforenlightenmentwaspromptedbypurelyprofessionalconsiderations. Thestatuette,idol,fetish,orwhateveritwas,hadbeencapturedsomemonthsbeforeinthewoodedswampssouthofNewOrleansduringaraidonasupposedvoodoomeeting;