Martinism was a popular occult philosophy of the day originally devised by Martinez de Pasqually, a Portuguese Jew. It was very Gnostic and "New Age" in doctrine and used illustrations of Cabbalistic diagrams similar to those used by the Rosicrucians. Their modern form of Martinism was overseen by the Tarot writer Papas, who was a Spaniard residing in France. Saenz de Castillon and Emma Calve were also Spanish by blood and by residence in Spain during their formative years. Emma was fluent in the local languages including the Occitan language spoken at Rennes-le-Chateau by the villagers.

While Marie Denarnaud went to make fresh lemonade, Castillon took a look around Sauniere`s private rooms (and was later reprimanded for it by Marie). He saw the priest's library and listed the books therein which included a Surveyor's Manual. On the wall were the prints that Sauniere had obtained when he visited the Louvre in Paris - the Tenier print of St. Anthony and the portrait of Pope Celestine V. The copy of Poussin's "The Shepherds of Arcadia II" was not a print but an oil painting, a good copy done at the museum that would have commanded a considerable sum. In the adjoining room which contained many boxes, were a surveyor's theodolite and distance measuring staffs as well as laboratory equipment (for assaying minerals?), a hunting rifle and bandolier, fishing rods, and bundles of books. Perhaps the theodolite and the distance measuring rods were used by Sauniere when he carefully buried the wine bottles that contained his messages to future seekers. These were the bottles discovered by Ben Hammott using the clues contained within the décor of the Rennes-le-Chateau church such as the pointing angels at the entrance.

Marie took them on a tour of the newly refurbished church and told them that Sauniere had drawn the designs for the plaques himself and had sent them back to the artisan until they were done exactly to his specifications. We get quite an impression of Marie's personality from the dialogue that Castillon records. He was both a reporter and a novelist, indeed, that is how he met La Diva. He had written a glowing review of an early operatic performance of hers in Paris. Castillon was impressed by the church's opulent décor; this was in 1900 before the construction of the Villa Bethania or the Tower Magdala.

After their walk around the grounds, Emma was tired and retired to the parlor to rest and compose a letter to Sauniere. While she was resting, Castillon wandered outside and met two curious villagers who repeated to him the local rumors and accusations against the priest and his housekeeper Marie concerning their treasure-hunting activities. They were said to have used ghostly messages from departed Templars to locate hidden wealth around the property. One of the men complained that his companion was due some of that wealth since it was he who had discovered the original parchment (probably the vial in the balustrade) which led the priest to discover what he was looking for. That discovery led to Sauniere`s mysterious riches. The men also joked about the priest's "magic umbrella" that he used to hunt for gold. As they became more aggressive, Castillon bought them drinks and bid them adieu.

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