as well as pursuing his ... well , rather exotic professions , which incidentally have made him a multimillionaire , he is recognized as a good historian , and- '' `` and five years ago at the latest , when he published an essay using previously unknown sources of material concerning a secret society which is based in london and has connections with the freemasons and the legendary figure of count saint-germain , the guardians decided they must get to know him better as a matter of urgency , '' said gideon from somewhere ahead of us .