old fritz and the new era-第62部分

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hands；　might　have　been　praying；　for　his　thumbs　were　not　turning
around；　but　rested；　quietly　crossed。

〃You；　my　son　and　brother；〃　continued　Cagliostro；　with　his　lofty；
haughty　reserve；　〃your　thoughts　are　diverted　from　earth；　and　the
joys　of　this　world　have　no　charm　for　you！〃　〃I　have　laid　the　oath　of
virtue　and　chastity　upon　the　altar　of　the　Invisibles；〃　replied
Wollner；　with　a　severe　tone　of　voice。　〃I　have　given　myself　to　a
pious　life　of　abstinence；　and　sworn　to　employ　every　means　to　lead
those　that　I　can　attain　to　upon　the　narrow　path　which　leads　to　the
paradise　of　science；　of　knowledge；　and　heavenly　joys。　How　could　I
forget　my　oath；　which　is　to　win　the　prince；　who　is　to　become　a　light
and　shield　in　the　holy　order；　from　tbe　broad　course　of　vice；　to　the
pathway　of　the　blest？　How　can　I　bear　to　see　him　lost　in　sin　who　is
elected　to　virtue；　and　who　longs　for　the　light　of　knowledge？〃

〃But；　in　order　to　bear　the　light　in　its　brightness；　he　must　have
passed　through　the　darkness　and　gloom　of　sin；〃　said　Cagliostro。
〃After　the　days　of　error　follow　those　of　knowledge。　This　is　what
causes　the　mildness　of　our　brother　Theophilus；　whom　the　earthly
world　calls　Bischofswerder；　whilst　you；　brother　Chrysophorus；　demand
from　the　prince　the　severest　virtue；　which　is　the　first　great　vow　of
the　brothers　advancing　in　the　holy　order　of　the　Rosicrucians。　You
are　both　wrong　and　both　right。　It　is　well　to　be　lenient　as　brother
Theophilus；　but　that　must　have　its　limit；　and　the　night　wanderer　who
stands　upon　the　brink　of　a　precipice　must　be　awakened；　but　not　with
violent　words；　or　calling　loudly　his　name；　because　a　sudden
awakening　would　only　hasten　his　fall。　Slowly　and　carefully　must　he
be　roused；　as　one　would　by　degrees　accustom　the　invalid　eyes　to　the
mid…day；　so　must　the　light　of　virtue　and　knowledge　dawn　upon　the
eyes；　ill　from　vice；　with　prudent　foresight。　Hear　my　proposal。
Summon　the　three　circles　of　the　brothers　of　the　highest　degree　to　a
sitting　to…night。　You　have　told　me　that　the　prince　desires　to　belong
to　the　seeing　ones；　and　be　in　communion　with　the　spiritual　world。
This　night　his　wish　shall　be　fulfilled；　to　see　the　spirits；　and　a
new　future　shall　rise　before　him。　My　time　is　limited；　let　us　arrange
every　thing；　for　the　voices　of　the　Invisibles　already　call　me　home。〃

At　this　instant　a　modest　knocking　was　heard　at　the　door；　which　was
repeated　at　different　intervals。

〃It　is　my　servant；〃　said　Bischofswerder；　〃and　he　has　undoubtedly　an
important　communication　for　me。〃

He　opened　the　door；　speaking　with　the　person　outside　in　a　low　tone；
and　returned　with　a　sealed　note。

Cagliostro；　apparently；　was　lest　in　deep　thought　and　indifferent　to
the　conversation　without；　directing　quietly　and　calmly；　in　the　mean
time；　a　few　questions　to　Wollner；　and；　as　it　seemed；　listening　only
to　his　answers。　Yet　as　Bischofswerder　approached　him；　saying；　〃it
is；　indeed；　important　news；　I　have　proof　in　hand　that〃　he
interrupted　him　with　a　commanding　motion；　and　finished　the　broken
sentence：　〃that　Wilhelmine　Enke　is　a　powerful　adversary；　having
connection　with　the　court；　as　this　letter　from　her　is　directed　to
Minister　Herzberg。　Is　it　not　this　that　you　would　say；　Theophilus？〃

Astonished；　he　replied　in　the　affirmative；　begging　his　master　to
read　it。

〃It　is　unnecessary；〃　replied　Cagliostro；　waving　back　the　letter；　〃to
the　seeing　eyes　every　thing　is　revealed。　This　person　announces　to
Minister　von　Herzberg　that　the　deceiver　and　necromancer；　Cagliostro；
in　his　flight　from　Mittau；　has　visited　her　to　menace　her。　She　begs
protection　for　herself　and　an　arrest　for　me；　that　I　am　known　as
Count　Julien；　at　the　hotel　King　of　Portugal；　at　Berlin；　and　that
haste　is　necessary。〃

Both　gentlemen　glanced　astonished　and　enraptured；　first　at　the
sealed　epistle　and　then　at　the　great　Magus。

〃Open　the　letter　and　convince　yourselves　of　the　contents！〃　commanded
Cagliostro。

〃It　is　unnecessary；〃　cried　Bischofswerder；　with　enthusiasm。　〃We
recognize　in　you　truth　and　knowledge；　you　have　revealed　to　us　the
contents。〃

〃Nay；　there　is　a　lingering　doubt　in　the　mind　of　brother
Chrysophorus！〃　said　Cagliostro；　regarding　Woellner　fixedly；　who
stood　with　downcast　eyes　before　him。

〃My　ruler　and　master；〃　stammered　Woellner；　in　confusion；　〃I　dare　not
doubt；　only〃

〃You　would　only　be　convinced；　open　then　the　letter；〃　interrupted
Cagliostro；　sarcastically。

With　a　sharp　knife；　Bischofswerder　cut　the　end　of　the　envelope；　and
handed　the　letter　to　him。

〃Give　it　to　Chrysophorus；〃　commanded　the　count。　〃He　shall　read　it；
and　may　the　incredulous　become　a　believer！〃

Woellner　perused　the　epistle　with　a　slightly　tremulous　voice；
stopping　now　and　then；　at　an　illegible　word；　which　his　master
quickly　supplied　to　him；　finishing　the　sentence　as　correctly　as　if
he　held　the　writing　in　his　hand。

The　contents　were　exactly　as　Cagliostro　had　given　them；　and　the
farther　Wollner　read；　the　more　his　voice　quivered　and
Bischofswerder's　enthusiasm　increased。

As　the　reading　was　finished；　the　former　sank；　with　uplifted　hands；
before　his　master；　as　if　imploring　mercy　from　a　mighty；　crushing
power。

〃I　have　been　unbelieving　as　Tobias；　doubting　as　Paul；　have　mercy　on
me；　O　master！　for　in　this　hour　the　divine　light　of　belief　and
knowledge　banishes　doubt　from　my　sinful　heart。　I　acknowledge　thy
supernatural　power　and　heavenly　wisdom！　My　whole　being　bows　in
humility　before　you　and　your　sublimity；　and　henceforth　I　will　only
be　your　humble　scholar　and　servant；　the　tool　of　your　will。　Forgive
me；　all…knowing　one；　if　my　heart　doubted。　Breathe　upon　me　the　breath
of　knowledge；　and　lay　thy　august　right　hand　upon　my　head；　and
penetrate　me　with　thy　heavenly　power。〃

〃Have　mercy　upon　me　also；〃　cried　Bischofswerder；　as　he　kneeled
beside　Woellner；　and；　like　him；　raised　his　hands　imploringly　to
Cagliostro。　〃Breathe　upon　me　the　breath　of　thy　grace；　and　regard　me；
the　repentant　and　unworthy；　with　thy　heavenly　glance！〃

Cagliostro　looked　to　heaven；　and　from　his　lips　there　fell
disconnected　words　of　exhortation；　suddenly　he　drew　forth　his　hands；
which　he　had　pushed　into　his　gown　and　crossed　upon　his　breast；
stretching　them　out　with　wide…spread　fingers。

〃Come　to　me；　ye　spirits！〃　he　cried；　in　a　loud；　thundering　voice。　〃Ye
spirits　of　fire　and　air；　come　to　me！　Ye　shall　flame　and　burn　upon
the　heads　of　these　two　persons　and　announce　to　them　that　the
Invisibles　are　with　us。　Come　to　me；　ye　spirits　of　fire！〃

He　clinched　his　fingers；　extending　them　again；　and　upon　the　points
there　danced　and　flickered　a　blue　light。　A　heavenly　smile　shone　upon
the　beautiful　face　of　the　Magus；　his　hands　slowly　sank　upon　the
heads　of　the　kneeling　ones；　the　flames　gliding　upon　their　heads；
resting　there　a　moment；　and　then　dying　away。

〃The　Invisibles　have　proclaimed　themselves　to　you　through　the　sign
of　fire；〃　cried　Cagliostro。　〃The　sacred　flame　has　glowed　upon　your
heads；　and　I　now　press　upon　your　brow　the　solemn　kiss　of
consecration　and　knowledge！〃

He　bowed　down　to　the　kneeling　ones。　It　seemed　as　if　a　cloud　of
perfume　had　passed　over　their　glowing　faces；　or　as　if　an　odorous
lily　had　been　pressed　upon　their　foreheads；　and　their　hearts
quivered　with　delight。　He　passed　his　hand　lightly　over　their　faces；
and　a　feeling　of　rapture　spread　through　their　whole　being。　Then　as
he　commanded　them　to　rise；　they　obeyed；　without　realizing　that　they
had　limbs　or　body；　but　regarded　the　miracle…worker；　entranced　with
his　smile。

Cagliostro；　with　hasty　decision　and　earnest；　commanding　air；　made　a
few　opposite　strokes　in　the　air；　and　immediately　the　faces　of　the
magnetized　looked　as　if　they　had　awakened　from　a　dream　of　splendor
and　delight　to　insipid；　flat　reality。

〃I　have　permitted　you　to　behold；　for　an　instant；　the　mysteries　and
miracles　which　are　serviceable　to　the　knowing　ones；〃　said
Cagliostro；　with　calm　earnestness。　〃Your　souls　were　in　communion
with　the　Invisibles；　and　from　the　source　of　knowledge　a　spark　of
illumination　fell　upon　your　heads。　Guard　it　as　a　heavenly　secret
that　no　one　should　know　of；　and　now　let　us　continue　our
conversation。〃

〃Permit　me　once　more　to　lay　my　head　at　your　feet；　and　receive　power
from　the　touch　thereof；〃　implored　Bischofswerder。

〃Let　me　embrace　your　knees；　and　entreat　pardon　and　grace；〃　begged
Woellner；　as　he　sank　down　to　clasp　them；　and　the　former　threw
himself　at　the　feet　of　his　master；　passionately　kissing　them。

Smilingly　he　received　their　homage；　and　assisted　them　to　rise。

〃Now　let　us　speak　in　a　human；　reasonable　manner；　my　friends。　Brother
Theophilus；　you；　first　of　all；　return　the　letter　to　the　envelope　and
seal　it。〃

Bischofswerder　obeyed；　taking　from　the　table　a　little　bottle　and　a
small　brush；　he　carefully　applied　an　adhesive　substance　to　the
edges；　pressing　them　firmly　together。

〃Master；　no　one　could　discover　that　it　had　been　opened。　Command　what
shall　be　done　with　it。〃

〃Give　it　to　your　servant；　that　he　may　return　it　to　him　who　brought
it；　and　the　latter　can　now　deliver　it　at　its　address。〃

〃To　the　Minister　Herzberg！〃　they　both　cried；　amazed。　〃It　is
impossible；　he　is　a　sworn　enemy　of　the　holy　order　and　your　own
heavenly　person。　He　could　take　the　most　violent　measures；　and　cause
your　excellency　to　be　arrested。〃

〃I　believe　it；〃　smiled　Cagliostro。　〃The　great　Frederick　would
announce　triumphantly　that　he　had　had　the　great　Semiramis　of　the
North　taken；　which　the　Russian　police　had　failed　to　accomplish。　It
would　be　a　welcome　triumph　for　unbelievers　and　fools；　and　they　would
trumpet　it　joyfully　through　the　world！　It　must　not　be；　although　my
spirit　in　its　power　and　might　would　soon　release　my　body；　yet　I　will
not　grant　this　momentary　triumph　to　my　enemies。　My　time　is　limited；
I　must　forth　to　Egypt；　where　the　Brothers　of　the　Millennium　will
assemble　in　the　course　of　a　week　in　the　pyramids；　to　announce　to　me
their　will　for　the　coming　century。　I　am　the　Spirit　of　God；　which　the
Invisibles　have　willed　to　enter　a　human　form；　therefore　it　must　be
regarded　as　sacred　and　protected。〃

〃Allow　me　to　guard；　with　my　life；　your　sublime　person！〃　cried
Bischofswerder。

〃And　I　also　implore　you　to　grant　me　the　happiness　to　watch　over　the
security　of　your　heavenly　self；　and　defend　it　to　the　las