old fritz and the new era-第65部分

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same　hour；　in　the　same　carriage；　with　two　large　black　trunks　and　a
postilion　blowing　the　same　melody；　and　provided　with　a　correct
passport；　which　he　shows　and　is　recognized　as　Count　St。　Julien；　who
is　going　to　Paris　by　Hamburg。　Here　are　the　nine　registers　from　the
different　gates；　all　the　same；　if　I　am　not　bewitched　and　do　not　read
straight。〃

〃This　trick　does　honor　to　the　count；〃　said　Herzberg；　smiling。　〃To…
morrow　you　shall　accompany　me　to　Sans…Souci　and　read　aloud　the
registers　to　the　king。　Do　you　think　it　will　be　impossible　to　pursue
the　count　now？〃

〃I　should　be　very　happy　to　follow　your　excellency's　judgment　in　this
matter；　and　arrest　the　rascal　in　any　way　that　you　could　point　out；〃
said　the　director。

〃I　am　convinced　that　he　is　in　the　city；　and　driving　put　of　the　nine
gates　at　the　same　time　was　the　best　manner　to　escape　being
discovered；〃　said　Herzberg。　〃He　is　concealed　in　some　one　of　the
houses　of　the　brothers；　and　we　shall　be　obliged　to　let　him　escape
this　time。〃

In　order　the　more　securely　to　carry　out　the　initiation　of　Prince
Frederick　William；　in　company　with　Bischofswerder　and　Woellner；
Cagliostro　had　arranged　his　pretended　departure。　For　a　long　time　the
prince　had　expressed　an　extreme　desire　to　be　received　into　the
mysteries　of　the　miraculous　and　holy　order；　of　which　he　had　heard
his　friends　speak　with　so　much　reverence。　But　he　had　been　put　off
from　time　to　time　with　regrets　and　shrugs　of　the　shoulders；　and
expressions　of　the　impossibility　of　granting　the　request。

〃The　spirits　do　not　always　appear　even　to　the　consecrated；〃　said
Bischofswerder。　〃They　make　themselves　known　after　many　fervent
prayers　and　implorings；　and　when　we　have　withdrawn　from　every　one
who　could　entice　us　to　doubt　or　disbelief。　I　fear　that　it　would　be
impossible　to　conjure　the　spirits　of　the　departed；　so　long　as　your
highness　honors　a　certain　lady　with　your　particular　favor；　who
ridicules　the　sublime　order　and　mingles　with　its　enemies。　How　can
they　appear　to　those　who　have　just　been　in　the　company　of　a　friend
of　the　Illuminati　and　unbelievers？〃

〃The　spirit…world　only　reveals　itself　to　the　virtuous　and　pure；〃
said　Woellner；　in　a　harsh；　dry　voice。　〃Its　inhabitants　cannot
approach　those　who　are　not　chaste　and　innocent；　for　sin　and　vice
surround　them　with　a　thick　fog；　which　keeps　them　at　a　distance　from
the　clear　atmosphere　of　the　sublime。　If　you　would　call　up　the
spirits；　you　must　remove　this　woman　who　entices　you　from　the　path　of
virtue；　and　renders　the　sphere　impure　around　you。〃

Despite　the　warnings　and　the　great　wish　the　prince　had　to　be
received　into　the　spirit…world；　and　become　a　member　of　the　highest
grade　of　the　Rosicrucians；　he　could　not　resolve　to　forsake　her　who
had　been　his　friend　for　ten　years；　and　who　had　borne　shame　and
degradation　on　his　account；　refusing　eligible　and　rich　men　rather
than　leave　him　and　become　a　legitimate　wife。　Wilhelmine　was　the
beloved　of　his　youth；　the　mother　of　his　two　dear　children；　and　she
alone　knew　how　to　drive　away　the　ennui　which　pursued　the　prince；
with　her　amiable；　subtle　wit。　Nay；　he　could　not　be　so　ungrateful；　so
heartless；　as　to　reject　her　who　had　so　tenderly　loved　him　when　young
and　beautiful；　now　that　the　first　bloom　of　youth　and　beauty　had
faded！

Bischofswerder　and　Woellner　recognized　this　difficulty；　and　applied
themselves　the　more　energetically　for　its　removal。　They　supposed
that　the　unexpected　arrival　of　Cagliostro　would　very　naturally
appear　to　the　prince　as　a　special　messenger；　sent；　without　doubt；
from　the　fathers；　to　accomplish　his　conversion。　They　announced　to
the　prince　that　the　Invisibles　had　taken　pity　upon　his　desire　for
knowledge；　and　had　consented　to　permit　him　to　gaze　into　the　regions
of　the　blest；　although　he　wandered　in　the　path　of　vice；　and　that　he
must　hold　himself　in　readiness　to　accompany　the　messenger　whenever
he　should　be　sent　to　call　him。

For　this　reason　the　crown　prince　had　written　to　Wilhelmine　that　she
should　not　expect　him　until　the　following　morning；　and　he　did　not
quit　his　room　the　entire　day；　with　excited　expectation　awaiting　the
summons。　As　evening　set　in　the　prince　was　cast　down；　and　quite　of
the　opinion　that　the　Invisibles　did　not　deem　him　worthy　to　enter
their　pure　presence；　and　thought　that　Wilhelmine　must　be　the
hinderance。　Whilst　he　was　reflecting　whether　to　sacrifice　his
beloved　to　the　salvation　of　his　soul；　the　secret　door　gently　opened；
and　two　men；　masked　and　wrapped　in　black　cloaks；　entered　and　placed
themselves　near　the　door。　The　prince　did　not　remark　their　entrance；
and　was　quite　frightened　as　he　chanced　to　turn；　and　saw　these　two
immovable　figures。

With　quivering　voice　he　demanded　their　mission。

In　the　same　tone；　as　if　one　were　an　echo　of　the　other；　they
answered；　〃We　desire　nothing；　but　you　demand　knowledge　of　the
spirit…world；　and　would　have　its　mysteries　revealed　to　you；　which
the　Invisibles　will　now　grant　you。　Follow　us；　therefore！〃　They
reopened　the　secret　door；　one　of　the　masked　preceded　the　prince；　and
the　other　followed　him。

The　prince　shuddered　at　the　thought　that　he　might　be　rushing　into
some　unknown　danger；　and　intrusting　himself　to　those　who　would
misuse　his　confidence。　He　demanded　to　see　their　faces；　declaring
himself　prepared　to　follow；　when　acquainted　with　his　guides。

〃It　would　then　be　better　to　remain；〃　replied　one　of　the　masked。　〃He
who　lacks　confidence　is　not　worthy　of　it；　and　he　who　trusts　only　the
Visibles；　the　Invisibles　flee。〃

The　prince　recognized　the　voice　of　Bischofswerder；　and　smiled；　but
he　knew　not　that　it　was　permitted　him　to　hear　it　to　inspire　him　with
courage。

〃Well；　so　let　it　be；　the　fathers　shall　see　that　I　am　a　believer；〃
cried　the　prince。

Immediately　one　of　the　brothers　put　his　own　cloak；　three…cornered
hat；　and　mask　upon　his　highness；　still　remaining　cloaked　and　masked
himself；　much　to　the　astonishment　of　the　passive　prince。　〃Come；　now；
the　Invisibles　await　you；〃　said　one　of　the　masked。　The　prince
stepped　courageously　into　the　little　corridor　which　led　to　the
secret　stairway；　one　brother　preceding　him；　causing　a　soft　light　to
illumine　their　path；　the　other　following　him。

In　silence　they　reached　the　side…door　of　the　palace；　where　a　close
carriage　awaited　them。

〃Where　are　you　taking　me？〃　asked　Frederick　William；　as　he　entered；
followed　by　the　two　brothers。

〃To　the　Invisibles；〃　answered　a　strange　voice。

Again　the　prince　essayed　to　begin　a　conversation；　his　only　response
being；　〃Purify　your　heart　and　pray。〃　Silently　they　galloped　over
paved　and　unpaved　streets；　the　prince　heartily　repenting　having　been
drawn　into　this　adventure。　He　thought　of　his　charming　and　beloved
Wilhelmine；　and　half　determined　to　give　the　command　to　drive　to
Charlottenburg。　The　fact　of　Bischofswerder　being　with　him；　and
fearful　of　appearing　weak　and　wanting　in　courage　in　the　eyes　of　his
friend　and　favorite；　prevented　him。

After　several　hours'　drive；　they　stopped　at　the　marble　palace　of
Potsdam；　near　the　one　which　the　prince　was　accustomed　to　occupy。　His
highness　looked　cautiously　around；　and　breathed　more　freely；　as　he
felt　that　he　was　now　surely　among　friends。

The　white　palace　stood　silent　and　deserted　in　the　darkness；　this
palace　at　Potsdam　being　only　used　for　the　guests　of　the　king。　The
carriage　stopped　at　the　side…door；　where　there　was　no　sentinel；　and
they　alighted；　entering　the　palace；　winding　along　the　corridors　in
the　same　order　as　before；　guided　by　the　glimmering　light　of　the　one
preceding。　Solemn　music；　strange　ringing　sounds；　fell　upon　the　ear
as　they　advanced。　Sometimes　they　were　sharp　and　cutting　as　glass；
then　threatening　and　penetrating　as　the　wind；　shrieking　and　moaning；
causing　one　to　be　very　nervous　if　not　terrified。

The　farther　they　proceeded　the　louder　grew　the　sounds；　and　at
intervals　groans；　moans　and　wailings　were　heard；　as　of　those　waiting
and　imploring　for　mercy。

One　of　the　brothers　now　opened　a　door；　and　then　placing　themselves
upon　each　side；　the　unknown　voice　announced　to　the　prince　that　they
had　arrived　at　the　long…sought…for　goal。

〃What　have　we　come　here　for？〃　asked　the　prince。

〃To　behold　that　which　you　have　many　times　petitioned　to　be　permitted
to　see；〃　replied　Bischofswerder；　gently　encouraging　and　inspiring
Frederick　William。　〃The　Invisibles　have　at　last　yielded　to　your
wishes；　and　the　spirits　which　you　summon　will　appear。　If　your
courage　fails　you；　and　you　dread　the　presence　of　the　departed；
command　to　be　reconducted　to　your　palace；　and　we　will　obey；　but
renounce　forever　the　sublime　happiness　of　beholding　the　Invisibles
and　of　holding　communion　with　the　spirit…world！〃

〃I　fear　not；　but　wish　to　be　in　the　company　of　the　spirits；〃　answered
the　prince；　proudly。

〃Kneel；〃　they　commanded；　permitting　him　to　enter；　〃and　thrice　summon
in　a　loud　voice　the　names　of　three　departed；　who　will　answer　your
questions。　Beware　of　approaching　them；　for　their　glance　is　death　and
their　breath　destruction！　Therefore　remain　kneeling；　as　it　becomes　a
mortal　in　the　presence　of　an　immortal。　Hope　and　pray；　brother！〃

As　the　door　closed　upon　the　prince；　and　he　found　himself　in　such
impenetrable　darkness；　he　sank　upon　his　knees；　for　he　dared　not
advance；　and　retreat　was　impossible；　in　spite　of　heart…quakings。

The　shrill；　penetrating　music　ceased；　and　a　voice　from　a　distance
called：　〃Summon　thrice　those　that　thou　desirest　to　see。〃

〃Marcus　Aurelius；　Leibnitz；　and　the　distinguished　elector；〃　called
the　prince　in　a　loud　voice。

〃Who　summoned　me？〃　was　responded　in　hollow；　sepulchral　tones；　and
directly　over　the　crown　prince　a　blue；　vaporous　light　was　visible
at　first　only　a　cloud；　then　by　degrees　increasing　and　condensing
itself　into　a　human　shape；　until　it　took　the　form　of　a　Roman　warrior
of　the　olden　time；　no　other　than　Marcus　Aurelius；　in　helmet　and
coat…of…mail；　with　a　pale；　earth…colored　face　and　glaring　eyes。

〃Who　summoned　me？〃　repeated　the　figure。　The　prince's　lips　refused　to
respond；　and　shuddering　he　gazed　upon　the　corpse…like　face；　so　exact
in　feature　to　the　old　Roman　emperor。

〃You　answer　me　not！〃　thundered　the　voice；　〃but　I　will　tell　you　who
you　areone　lost　in　sin　and　an　apostate！the　crown　prince　of
Prussia；　a　future　king；　who　will