old fritz and the new era-第61部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


church；　the　Greek　temple。　It　is　possible　my　life　may　not　be　a　godly
one；　but　it　is　as　happy　as　the　gods；　and　that　is　something　in　this
tedious　world。〃

〃I　regard　you　with　astonishment；〃　said　Cagliostro；　〃for　I　recognize
in　your　countenance　that　the　devil　has　won　you　over　to　his　power；
and　in　you　he　speaks　with　the　bold　insolence　of　the　sinful。　Subdue；
unhappy　child；　your　rash　speech；　that　the　Fathers　may　not　hear　of
it；　and　crush　you　in　their　wrath。〃

〃I　do　not　fear　their　thunderbolts；　permit　me　to　tell　you。　We　are　in
Prussia；　the　great　king　watches　over　all　his　subjects；　neither　the
Romish　Church　nor　the　Rosicrucians　can　obscure　the　light　of
knowledge。　He　will　not　suffer　a　ghost；　sneaking　in　the　dark；　to
exercise　power　here；　and　he　will　not　refuse　the　protection　to　me
which　is　accorded　to　the　least　of　his　subjects。　I　do　not　fear　you；
and　I　will　tell　you　the　truth　entire；　I　believe　you　to　be　a
hypocrite　and　a　charlatan；　who〃

〃Miserable　one！〃　interrupted　Cagliostro；　as　he　furiously　rushed　to
her；　seizing　her　by　the　arm〃cease；　unhappy　one；　or　your　life　is
forfeited　to　the　invisible　avengers！〃

Wilhelmine　shook　her　head；　and　encountered　his　flaming　eyes　with　a
proud　glance。　〃I　repeat　your　own　wordscease；　or　your　life　will　be
forfeited！　Perhaps　you　think　I　do　not　know　what　happened　to　you　in
Mittau；　where　you　were　recognized　as　a　charlatan；　who　fooled　the
poor　creatures　into　the　belief　of　his　miraculous　acts；　which
consisted　in　lightening　their　purses　to　the　benefit　of　his　own。　You
were　obliged　to　flee　from　MitLau　in　the　night；　to　save　yourself；
your　treasures；　and　wonderful　man…traps；　and　the　beautiful　Lorenza
Feliciana。　Beware！　The　Empress　of　Russia　had　a　certain　Joseph
Balsamo　pursued；　who　had　practised　great　deception；　and　people
pretend　that　he　resembles　Count　Cagliostro。　The　Empress　Catherine　is
a　good　friend　and　ally　of　the　King　of　Prussia；　and　if　the　happy　idea
should　occur　to　me　to　propose　seeking　the　necromancer　here；　the
Great　Kophta　might　come　a　miserable　end。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　it　would　only　be　a　welcome　occasion　for　the　Great
Kophta　to　reveal　himself；　and　hurl　his　despicable；　malicious　enemy
into　the　dust　at　his　feet；〃　replied　Cagliostro；　calmly。　〃Try　it；　you
faithless；　fallen　daughter　of　the　Invisiblestry　to　unloose　the
pack　of　my　enemies；　to　recognize　that　all　their　yelling　and　barking
does　not　trouble　the　noble　stag　to　whom　God　has　given　the　whole
world　for　His　forestward　that　He　should　rule　therein。　I　have
listened　to　you　unto　the　end；　and　I　regard　your　invectives　and
accusations　as　not　worthy　of　a　reply　or　justification；　and　I　laugh
at　your　menaces。　But　I　warn　you；　Wilhelmine　Enke；　defy　not　the
Invisibles；　and　offend　not　the　Holy　Fathers；　by　your　continued
resistance。　Turn；　misguided　child　of　sinturn　while　there　is　yet
time！　In　their　name　I　offer　you　a　last　chance；　their　forbearance　is
without　bounds；　and　their　mercy　long　enduring。〃

〃I　neither　desire　your　forbearance　nor　mercy；〃　cried　she；　proudly。
〃I　will　have　no　companionship　with　my　enemies；　and　the　Rosicrucians
are　such；　for　Bischofswerder　and　Woellner　both　hate　me；　and　would
put　me　aside。　There　is　no　reconciliation　where　only　hostility　is
possible。〃

〃The　heavenly　listen　not　to　the　voices　of　the　earthly；　and　prove
themselves；　the　most　noble　when　the　least　deserved。　They　will
protect　and　watch　over　you；　even　against　your　will；　and　never　will
they　be　deaf　to　your　cry　for　aid　in　the　hour　of　Here　is　a　token　of
their　grace　toward　you。　Take　this　ringdo　you　recognize　it？〃

Wilhelmine　regarded　it　attentively。　〃This　is　the　ring　which　I　gave
at　the　tribute…altar　instead　of　gold；　which　you　desired。〃

〃The　Invisibles　sent　it　to　you　to…day　as　the　precious　pledge　of
their　favor。　You　shall　keep　it；　and　wear　it　as　a　token　of　their
heavenly　forbearance；　and　when　you　turn　back　from　the　erroneous　ways
into　which　the　Illuminati　have　led　you；　send　it　to　the　circle　of
Berlin　directors；　either　Bischofswerder　or　Wollner；　and　they　will
come　to　your　rescue。　Farewell！　I　forgive　you　all　your　wicked　words；
which　fall　like　spent　arrows　from　the　helmet　of　my　righteousness。〃

Cagliostro　turned　proudly　away；　and　disappeared　in　the　bushes。

Wilhelmine　placed　the　ring　upon　her　finger；　turning　it　to　watch　the
play　of　colors。　〃I　do　not　know　why；〃　said　she；　〃but　it　has　not　the
same　brilliancy　as　formerly。　I　will　take　it　to　the　jeweller　Wagner；
and　ask　him　if　it　is　the　same　stone。　Perhaps　the　Great　Kophta　has
tried　some　of　his　miracles　upon　it。　I　will　at　once　send　the　servant
to　Minister　von　Herzberg；　and　inform　him　that　Cagliostro　is　here。　He
has　promised　me　protection　in　the　name　of　the　king；　and　I　feel　that
I　shall　now　have　need　of　it。〃

She　hurried　to　the　house；　and　devoted　herself　to　the　writing　of　the
said　lettera　task　she　was　but　little　accustomed　to。　She　had
learned　to　speak　French　very　prettily；　and　to　express　herself
skilfully　and　wittily　in　German；　and　under　her　royal　master；　the
crown　prince　Frederick　William；　gained　much　valuable　scientific
knowledge。　But　to　write　fluently　was　quite　another　thing；　and　it　was
a　long　time　before　the　epistle　was　finished。　However；　happily
accomplished；　she　commanded　the　servant　to　take　it　to　Berlin。

He　bowed　with　silent　submission；　but　once　having　quitted　the　house；
a　cunning　smile　was　visible　upon　his　face；　and　he　availed　himself　of
a　stage…coach　which　was　going　in　the　same　direction。　〃I　can　afford
this　expense；〃　said　he；　arranging　himself　comfortably。　〃When　I　have
money　in　my　pocket　why　should　I　walk　the　long　distance？　I　was　very
clever　to　tell　Bischofswerder　that　the　Minister　von　Herzberg　had
secretly　visited　my　mistress；　and　it　was　equally　clever　of　him　to
give　me　a　louis　d'or；　and　promise　me　the　same　every　time　that　I
should　bring　him　important　news。　Indeed；　I　think　to…day　he　may　well
thank　me；　and　I　believe；　if　I　often　inform　him；　he　will　advance　me　a
degree；　and　at　last　I　shall　be　admitted　to　the　circle　of　the　elect；
while　I　now　belong　to　the　outside　circle；　who　know　nothing　and　hope
every　thing。〃




CHAPTER　XXX。

THE　TRIUMVIRATE。


While　Wilhelmine's　servant　gave　himself　up　to　his　hopes；　slowly　down
the　broad　avenue；　an　elegant　four…in…hand　carriage　rolled　past　him；
and　stopped　at　the　house　where　lived　Colonel　Bischofswerder；　long
before　he　had　reached　the　Brandenburg　Gate。　A　gentleman　sprang　out；
hastening　past　the　footman　into　the　house；　where　a　servant　evidently
awaited　his　arrival；　and　preceded　him　with　devout　mien；　throwing
open　the　wide　folding…doors　and　announcing；　in　a　solemn　voice〃　His
excellency；　Count　Cagliostro。〃　He　then　respectfully　withdrew；　bowing
profoundly　as　the　count　passed；　and　closed　quickly　and　noiselessly
the　doors　behind　him。

The　two　gentlemen　within　hastened　to　meet　the　count；　who　nodded
smilingly；　and　extended　to　them　with　a　gracious　condescension　his
white　hand　sparkling　with　diamonds。　〃My　dear　brothers；〃　said　he；
〃you　have　unfortunately　announced　me　the　truthWilhelmine　Enke　is
faithlessis　an　apostate。〃

〃A　courtesan；　ensnared　by　the　devil　of　unchastity；〃　murmured　the
elder　of　the　twoa　man　of　long；　lank　figure；　pale；　pock…marked
face；　the　broad　high　forehead　shaded　with　but　little　hair；　the
watery　blue　eyes　turned　upward；　as　if　in　pious　ecstasy；　and　the
large；　bony　hands　either　folded　as　if　in　prayer；　or　as　if　in　quiet
contemplation；　twirling　his　thumbs　around　each　other。　〃I　have　always
said　so；〃　said　he；　with　a　long…drawn　sigh；　〃she　is　a　temptress；　whom
Satan；　in　bodily　repetition　of　himself；　has　placed　by　the　prince's
side；　and　his　salvation　cannot　be　counted　upon　until　this　person　is
removed。〃

〃And　you；　my　beloved　brother；　think　otherwisedo　you　not？〃　asked
Cagliostro；　gently。

〃Yes；〃　answered　Bischofswerder；　〃you　know　well；　sublime　master　and
ruler；　how　much　I　esteem　and　love　the　worthy　and　honorable　Wollner；
and　how　much　weight　his　opinion　has　with　me。　In　all　my　reports　to
the　Invisible　Fathers　I　have　always　particularly　mentioned　him；　and
it　was　upon　my　wish　and　proposal　that　they　appointed　him　director　of
one　of　the　three　Berlin　circles。　He　is　occupied　near　me　in　the
confederacy；　and　is　also　in　the　service　of　the　crown　prince；　for　it
was　by　my　especial；　earnest　recommendation　that　his　highness　called
him　to　Berlin　from　the　exchequer　of　Prince　Henry　at　Rheinsberg；　that
he　might　give　him　lectures　in　politics　and　other　branches　of
administration；　I　do　not　say　it　to　boast；　although　I　have　always
regarded　it　as　an　honor　to　have　opened　the　way　to　a　distinguished
man；　to　have　his　great　talents　properly　valued。　I　only　say　it　to
prove　my　high　appreciation　of　dear　brother　Wollner；　and　to　defend
myself；　master；　in　your　eyes；　that　I　differ　in　opinion　from　him；　and
do　not　advise　a　violent　removal　of　this　person；　to　whom　the　prince
is　more　attached　than　he　himself　knows　of。〃

〃It　is　not　necessary　to　excuse　yourself　to　me；　my　son；〃　said
Cagliostro；　pompously。　〃The　eyes　which　the　Invisibles　have　lighted
up　with　a　beam　of　revelation；　see　into　the　depths　of　things；　and
reveal　the　most　hidden。　I　have　glanced　into　your　hearts；　and　I　will
tell　you　that　which　I　have　therein　read。　You；　Hans　Rudolph　von
Bischofswerder；　belong　to　the　world；　its　joys　and　sorrows　agitate
you。　You　have　a　longing　for　science　and　the　knowledge　of　the
Invisibles；　and　you　would　also　enjoy　the　Visibles；　and　take　part　in
the　pleasures　of　life。　What　you　would　allow　yourself；　that　you　would
also　grant　to　your　royal　master；　whose　friend　and　leader　you　are；
and　who；　one　day；　will　be　the　future　king　and　ruler　of　the　visible
world；　and　a　faithful　son　and　servant　of　the　Invisibles。　Is　it　not
thus？〃

〃It　is　so；〃　answered　Bischofswerder；　who；　with　wondering
astonishment；　drank　in　every　word　that　fell　from　Cagliostro's　lips
as　a　revelation。　〃You　have　read　the　inmost　thoughts　of　my　heart；　and
what　I　scarcely　suspected　myself；　you　are　knowing　of；　lord　and
master。〃

〃Toil　and　strive；　my　son；　and　you　shall　rise　to　the　highest　grade；
in　which　presentiment　and　recognition；　thinking　and　knowing；　are
one。〃

He　extended　to　Bischofswerder　his　hand；　who　fervently　pressed　it　to
his　lips；　then　turned　to　Wollner；　who；　with　upturned　gaze　and　folded
hands；　might　have　been　praying；　for　his　thumbs　were　not　tu