Corso is attacked while walking outside only to be saved by The Girl who exhibits seemingly supernatural powers. Wary of Corso and knowing he is employed by Balkan, she refuses him. Corso goes to Paris, France, to investigate the third copy owned by Baroness Kessler. The next day the Girl takes Corso to see Fargas, who has been drowned Corso retrieves Fargas's burnt copy from the fireplace and finds the three 'L.C.F.' engravings torn out. Corso finds that three different engravings in his copy are signed 'L.C.F.', and the engravings signed this way have subtle differences from those signed 'A.T.' Corso relays his findings to Balkan and Balkan orders him to acquire Fargas' copy. The two show him that, of the book's nine engravings, only six are signed 'A.T.' while the other three are signed 'L.C.F.' for Lucifer.Ĭorso travels to Sintra, Lisbon, Portugal, and meets with Victor Fargas who owns a copy of The Nine Gates.

Corso retrieves the book and travels to Toledo, Spain, to speak to the Ceniza Brothers, book restorers who owned Balkan's copy before the Telfers. The next day, Corso goes to a bookseller he had entrusted the book to and finds him hanged in his store like an engraving in The Nine Gates. After they have sex, and he refuses to sell, she attacks him, and knocks him unconscious. Telfer later seduces Corso, hoping he will sell the book to her. During his travels, Corso comes into contact with a mysterious woman ('The Girl') who appears to be following him.Ĭorso interviews Liana Telfer, the widow of Andrew Telfer who sold Balkan The Nine Gates shortly before killing himself. Balkan believes only one of the three is authentic and wants Corso to inspect the other two to determine which one. Torchia is alleged to have written the book in collaboration with the Devil, and only three copies survived when he and his works were burned for heresy. Balkan has acquired a copy of The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, a grimoire by 17th-century author Aristide Torchia said to be able to summon the Devil. Dean Corso, a New York City rare book dealer, is hired by wealthy collector Boris Balkan.

The ninth gate arturo pérez reverte