old fritz and the new era-第64部分

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We　must　all　follow　and　serve　him　as　slaves；　or　be　crushed　under　the
wheels　of　his　triumphal　car。　Men　talk　and　reason　about　the　storm　and
pressure　which　is　spreading　through　the　world；　and　finally　will
reduce　every　thing　to　storm　the　eternal　and　undying　bliss　of　wealth；
and　press　on　for　gold。〃

〃To　think　that　we　have　lost　every　thing！〃　cried　Lorenza；　springing
up　and　stamping　with　her　silken…shod　foot；　〃every　thing　is　lost　that
I　have　been　years　gaining；　by　hypocrisy；　deception；　and　coquetry。
They　have　robbed　me！　The　shameful　barbarians　have　seized　all　our
effects。　The　police　surrounded　the　house；　guarding　every　entrance；
and　we　were　obliged　to　escape　by　the　roof　into　the　house　of　one　of
the　brothers；　leaving　all　our　treasures　behind。〃

〃You　exaggerate；　Lorenza；　and　represent　it　worse　than　it　is。　Look
around；　you　are　surrounded　with　luxury　and　comfort。　Our　great
undertakings　in　Courland　and　St。　Petersburg　have　failed；　it　is　true；
and　the　Russian　empress　has　ordered　me　to　be　driven　away　and
pursued。　But　the　Invisible　Fathers　have　not　forsaken　me；　as　they
know　that　I　am　a　useful　tool　in　their　hands。　They　have　carefully
provided　me　with　money；　passports；　and　instructions。　We　have　lost
thousands；　but　we　will　regain　them；　for　the　future　is　ours。　I　am
protected　by　the　order；　and　called　to　a　new　and　important　mission　in
Paris；　to　strive　for　the　sacred　aim　of　the　Church。〃

〃And　have　they　no　mission　for　me？〃　asked　Lorenza。　〃Is　there　nothing
further　for　me　to　do　in　that　city　than　to　be　a　beautiful　woman；　and
play　tricks　for　my　dear　husband？〃

〃Great　events　await　you　in　Paris；　which　we　will　aid　you　to　prepare。
The　Invisible　Fathers　send　you　before　me　to　the　Cardinal　de　Rohan。
You　are　going　to　Paris　in　the　service　of　the　revolution　of　minds。
The　carriage　is　ordered；　and　you　are　to　set　off　this　very　hour。〃

〃And　when　are　you　going；　Joseph？〃　Lorenza　asked；　with　a　touch　of
melancholy。

〃I　shall　officially　depart　in　an　hour；　but　in　reality　at　the　same
time　that　the　Baroness　von　Balmore　leaves　the　hotel　in　her
travelling…carriage。　Near　the　waiting…maid　will　a　servant　sit　upon
the　box。　I　shall　be　he。〃

〃Officially　you　depart　in　an　hour；　what　does　that　mean？〃　Cagliostro
smiled。　〃It　is　a　long　story　and　a　comical　one。　Come；　seat　yourself
by　me　upon　the　sofa；　repose　your　head　upon　me；　and　listen　to　what　I
will　relate　to　you。〃




CHAPTER　XXXII。

MIRACLES　AND　SPIRITS。


Late　in　the　afternoon　of　the　same　day　a　travelling…carriage　drove　up
before　the　hotel　〃King　of　Portugal；〃　in　the　Burgstrasse；　with　two
large　black　trunks　strapped　upon　it　behind　the　footman's　box；　and
the　postilion；　sitting　by　the　coachman；　playing　the　beautiful　and
popular　air；　〃Es　ritten　drei　Reuter　cum　Thore　hinaus！〃

Count　St。　Julien　descended　the　stairs；　followed　by　the　host；　and
nodded　in　a　lofty　manner　to　the　two　waiters　and　hostler　awaiting　him
at　the　entrance；　who　returned　it　by　a　profound　bow；　at　the　same　time
not　failing　to　see　the　white　hand　extended　with　the　trinkgeld。

The　host　himself　closed　the　carriage　door；　and　the　count　departed
amid　the　merry　peals　of　the　postilion；　the　former　gazing　after　him
with　the　satisfaction　of　one　who　has　made　a　good　bargain。　The
servants　watched　it；　too；　until　it　had　disappeared　around　the　corner
of　the　next　street。

At　this　instant　the　quivering　tones　of　a　post…horn　were　heard；　and
an　open　caleche　appeared　and　stopped　before　the　hotel　with　two　large
black　travelling…trunks　upon　it；　and　the　postilion　upon　the　box
blowing　the　popular　air；　〃Es　ritten　drei　Reuter　zum　Thore　hinaus！〃

The　host　observed　the　empty　carriage　with　a　smile；　but　the　servants
asked　themselves　astonished　what　it　meant；　and　as　they　turned　and
saw　Count　St。　Julien　descending　the　stairs；　they　were　startled。　He
offered　them　the　usual　trinkgeld；　entered　the　carriage；　and　rolled
away　with　a　commanding　nod。

The　host　seemed　speechless　with　astonishment；　and　stood　as　if　rooted
to　the　spot。　The　servants　stared　after　the　carriage　until　it　turned
the　corner；　when　just　then　a　post…horn　was　heard　playing　the
agreeable　melody　of　〃Drei　Reuter；〃　and　a　travelling…carriage　with
two　large　black　trunks　drove　up　to　the　door。

The　servants　turned　pale；　looking　shyly　toward　the　stairs。　Slowly
and　with　great　dignity　Count　St。　Julien　descended；　greeting　them
with　a　gentlemanly　nod　as　he　passed；　and；　extending　his　white　hand
with　a　trinkgeld；　mounted　his　carriage；　and　drove　away。

The　host　stood　as　if　stunned；　outside　the　door；　looking　right　and
left　with　unspeakable　terror。　The　servants　tremblingly　fixed　their
eyes　upon　the　stairs；　no　longer　possessing　the　power　to　move；　but
heard　the　post…horn；　and　the　carriage　which　drove　up　to　the　door　the
third　time。　Slowly　and　proudly　Count　St。　Julien　advanced。　It　was　the
same　cold；　grave　face；　with　the　thick　black　beard；　and　the　powdered
peruke；　the　curls　of　which　overshadowed　the　brow　and　cheeks。　He　wore
exactly　the　same　dark…brown　cloak　over　the　black　velvet　dress。　The
white　hand；　with　broad　lace　wrist…ruffles；　reached　them　also　a
trinkgeld。

This　time　the　fellows　had　scarcely　self…possession　sufficient　to
take　the　present；　for　every　thing　swam　before　their　eyes；　and　their
hearts　one　moment　almost　ceased　to　beat；　and　then　palpitated　with
the　feverish　rapidity　of　terror。

〃I　would　run　away；〃　murmured　the　chief　waiter；　as　Count　St。　Julien
for　the　fourth　time　drove　away；　〃if　my　feet　were　not　riveted　to　the
floor。〃

〃If　I　could　move　mine　I　would　have　gone　long　ago；〃　groaned　the
second　waiter；　the　clear　drops　standing　upon　his　forehead。　〃It　is
witchcraft！　Oh；　Heaven！　they　are　coming　again；　playing　the　'Drei
Reuter。'〃

The　count　descended　the　stairs　for　the　fifth　time；　whispered　to　the
hostler；　who　was　quite　engrossed　counting　his　money；　handed　the
trinkgeld　to　the　pale　fellows　by　the　door；　and　mounted　his　carriage；
driving　away　amid　the　merry　peals　of　the　post…horn。

〃Julius；〃　murmured　the　steward；　softly；　〃give　my　hair　a　good
pulling；　that　I　may　awake　from　this　horrible　dream。〃

〃I　cannot；〃　he　whimpered；　〃my　hands　and　feet　are　lame。　I　cannot
move。〃

〃I　will；〃　said　the　hostler；　courageously　stretching　forth　his　hand；
and　pulling　it　so　vigorously　that　the　steward　was　fully　convinced　of
the　reality　of　things。

Again　the　post…horn　sounded　the　〃Drei　Reuter；〃　again　the　carriage
stopped　before　the　door；　and　the　count　descended；　giving　to　every
one　a　gift　like　the　〃Maedchen　aus　der　Fremde；〃　and　for　the　sixth
time　rolled　away。

〃We　are　bewitched；　it　is　a　ghost　from　the　infernal　regions！〃　groaned
the　steward。

〃I　cannot　abide　it　any　longerI　shall　die！〃　said　the　second　waiter。

〃I　do　not　mind　it；〃　said　the　hostler；　as　he　jingled　the　money；　〃if
they　are　ghosts　from　hell；　the　eight　groschen　do　not　come　from
there；　for　they　are　quite　cool。　See　howAh；　there　comes　the　count
again！〃

For　the　seventh　time　he　passed　down　the　stairway；　by　the　servants；
who　wore　no　longer　standing　but　kneeling；　which　the　count　received
as　a　proof　of　their　profound　respect；　and　slipped　the　money　into
their　hands。

〃Praise　God；　all　good　spirits！〃　murmured　the　head　waiter；　but
neither　the　count　nor　the　money　seemed　to　be　moved　by　the　pious
exhortation；　for　he　quietly　entered　his　carriage；　and　the　eight
groschen　lay　in　the　servant's　hand；　at　which　the　hostler　remarked
that　he　would　stand　there　all　night　if　the　count　would　only
continually　pass　by　with　groschen。　It　pleased　the　count　to　descend
the　stairs　yet　twice　more；　divide　the　trinkgeld；　and　mount　his
carriage。　As　he　drove　away　the　ninth　time；　it　appeared　as　if　the
Drei　Reuter　were　determined　to　drive　out　of　the　gate　and　forsake　the
hotel　〃King　of　Portugal。〃　The　host　waited　awhile；　and　talked　with
the　neighbors；　who；　roused　by　the　continual　blast　of　the　post…horn；
were　curious　to　know　how　it　happened　that　so　many　guests　were
departing　by　extra　posts。　Whereupon　the　host；　in　a　hollow；
sepulchral　voice；　his　eyes　glaring；　and　shrugging　his　shoulders；
declared　that　there　had　been　but　one　gentleman　at　the　hotel；　but
nine　times　he　had　seen　him　drive　away；　and　the　devil　must　have　a
hand　in　the　matter！

Shaking　his　head；　he　returned　to　the　hotel；　and　found　the　servants
busily　counting　their　money；　occasionally　casting　covetous　looks
toward　the　stairs；　as　if　they　hoped　the　count　would　again　descend。

Exactly　as　Cagliostro　had　foretold；　Minister　Herzberg　did　not　return
from　Sans…Souci　until　late　in　the　evening；　and　then　found
Wilhelmine's　letter　in　his　cabinet。

Immediately　the　police　were　instructed　to　arrest　Count　St。　Julien　at
the　hotel　〃King　of　Portugal。〃

An　hour　later　the　chief　of　the　police　came　to　say　that　the　count　had
already　been　gone　two　hours。　He　repeated　the　account　of　the　host；
corroborated　by　the　servants；　of　nine　different　counts　having　driven
away　from　the　hotel。

Herzberg　smiled。　〃We　have　to　deal　with　a　very　clever　scoundrel；〃
said　he；　〃and　it　is　no　other　than　the　so…called　Count　Cagliostro；
who　was　lately　exposed　as　a　bold　trickster　in　Mittau　and　St。
Petersburg；　and　about　whose　arrest　the　Empress　Catharine　is　very
much　exercised。　It　would　be　very　agreeable　to　the　king　to　show　this
little　attention　to　her　imperial　highness；　and　trap　the　adroit
pickpocket。〃

〃We　might　succeed　in　catching　him　in　his　flight；〃　remarked　the
chief。　〃For　the　last　six　months　the　king　has　given　orders　that　every
passport　should　be　examined　at　the　gates；　and　the　route　of　the
travellers　noted　down；　which　is　all　registered　and　sent　to　the　king。
It　would　be　very　easy　to　discover　by　which　gate　he　departed；　and　his
route；　and　then　have　him　pursued。〃

〃That　is　well　thought　of；　director；　hasten　to　put　it　into　execution；
and　inform　us　of　the　result。〃　He　returned　in　an　hour　to　the
minister's　cabinet；　shaking　his　head　gravely。　〃Your　excellency；　it
is　very　strange；　but　he　is　a　wizard。　This　man　has　driven　out　of　the
nine　gates　at　the　same　hour　and　minute。〃

Herzberg　laughed。　〃This　is　one　of　his　tricks；　and　by　it　I　recognize
the　great　necromancer。〃

〃Your　excellency；　this　is　no　trickery；　but　witchery。　It　is
impossible　for　any　one　man　to　drive　out　of　the　nine　gates　at　the
same　hour；　in　the　same　carriage；　with　two　large　black　trunks　and　a
postilion　blowing　the　same　melody；　and　provid