old fritz and the new era-第25部分

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thoughts。　He　will　assist　me　to　rise　from　my　shame　and　degradation　to
an　honored　position。　I　shall　become　a　rich　and　influential　woman！　I
will　confide　in　him；　never　doubting　himfor　he　is　my　master　and
savior！　Away　with　fear！　He　has　said　that　the　house　should　be
guarded；　and　it　will　be！　Onward　then；　Wilhelmine；　without　fear！〃

She　hastened　to　the　large　drawing…room；　in　order　to　see　the　effect
of　the　numerous　wax…lights　in　the　superb　chandeliers　of　rock
crystal。　The　great　folding…doors　resisted　all　her　efforts　to　open
them。　〃Who　is　there？〃　cried　a　loud；　threatening　voice。　Trembling　and
with　beating　heart　Wilhelmine　leaned　against　the　door；　giddy　with
fear；　when　a　second　demand；　〃Who　is　there？　The　watchword！　No　one　can
pass　without　the　countersign！〃　roused　her；　and　she　stole　back　on
tiptoe　to　her　room。　〃He　has　kept　his　word；　the　doors　are　guarded！〃
she　whispered。　〃I　will　go　and　await　him　in　my　sitting…room。〃　She
stepped　quickly　forward；　when　suddenly　she　thought　she　heard
footsteps　stealing　behind　her；　turning；　she　beheld　two　men　wrapped
in　black　cloaks；　with　black　masks；　stealthily　creeping　after　her。
Wilhelmine　shrieked　with　terror；　tore　open　the　door；　rushed　across
the　next　room　into　her　own　boudoir。　As　she　entered　a　glance　revealed
to　her　that　the　two　masks　approached　nearer　and　nearer。　She　bolted
the　door　quickly；　sinking　to　the　floor　with　fright　and　exhaustion。
〃What　are　they　going　to　do？　Will　they　force　open　the　door　and　murder
me？　How　foolish；　how　fearfully　foolish　to　have　sent　away　all　my
servants。　Now　I　understand　it：　Cagliostro　is　not　only　an　impostora
charlatan；　but　he　is　a　thief　and　an　assassin。　I　have　been　caught　in
the　trap　set　for　me；　like　a　credulous　fool！　He　and　his　associates
will　rob　me　and　plunder　my　beautiful　villa；　but　just　given　to　me；
and；　when　they　have　secured　all；　murder　me　to　escape　betrayal。〃　With
deep　contrition；　weeping　and　trembling；　Wilhelmine　accused　herself
of　her　credulity　and　folly。　For　the　first　time　in　her　life　she　was
dismayed　and　cowardly；　for　it　was　the　first　time　that　she　had　had　to
tremble　for　her　possessions。　It　was　something　so　new；　so
unaccustomed　to　her　to　possess　any　thing；　that　it　made　her　anxious；
and　she　feared；　as　in　the　fairy　tale；　that　it　would　dissolve　into
nothing。　By　degrees　her　presence　of　mind　and　equanimity　were
restored。　The　stillness　was　unbrokenand　no　one　forced　the　door；　to
murder　the　mistress　of　this　costly　possession。　Gathering　courage；
she　rose　softly　and　stole　to　the　window。　The　moon　shone　brightly　and
clearly。　The　house　stood　sideways　to　the　street；　and　separated　from
it；　first　by　thick　shrubbery；　and　then　a　trellised　lawn。　Whoever
would　enter；　directly　turned　into　a　path　leading　from　the　street
into　the　shrubbery。　Just　upon　this　walk；　Wilhelmine　perceived　masked
men　approaching；　one　by　one；　as　in　a　processionslowly；　silently
moving　on；　until　they　neared　the　gate　of　the　trellised　square；　where
two　tall；　dark　forms　were　stationed　to　demand　the　countersign；　which
being　given；　they　passed　over　the　lawn　into　the　house。

〃I　will　take　courage；　he　has　told　me　the　truth；　the　house　is　well
guarded；〃　murmured　Wilhelmine。　〃None　but　the　summoned　can　enter；　I
belong　to　the　number；　and　when　it　is　time　Cagliostro　will　come　and
fetch　me。　Until　then；　let　me　await　quietly　the　result；〃　said　she；　as
she　stretched　herself　comfortably　upon　the　sofa；　laughing　at　her
former　cowardice　and　terror。　〃No　one　can　enter　this　room　unless　I
open　the　door；　and　fortunately　there　is　but　one　exit。　The　wizard
himself　could　not　gain　admittance　unless　the　walls　should　open　or
the　bolt　drive　hack　for　him。　Hark！　it　strikes　eleven；　one　tedious
hour　longer　to　wait。　I　must　try　to　rest　a　little。〃　She　laid　her　head
upon　the　cushion；　closing　her　eyes。　The　calm　and　the　quiet　were
refreshing　after　the　excitement　of　the　day。　Gradually　her　thoughts
became　confuseddim　pictures　floated　past　her　mental　vision；　her
breathing　became　shorter；　and　she　slept。　The　stillness　was　unbroken；
save　the　clock　striking　the　quarters　of　every　hour。　Scarcely　had　the
last　quarter　to　midnight　sounded；　when　the　window　was　softly　opened；
and　a　dark　form　descended　into　the　room。　He　listened　a　moment；
looking　at　the　sleeping　one；　who　moved　not；　then　extinguished　the
light；　creeping　toward　the　door。　Wilhelmine　slept　on。　Suddenly　it
seemed　to　her　as　if　sunbeams　blinded　her；　and　she　started　up　from　a
profound　sleep。　It　was　indeed　no　dream。　A　white　form　stood　before
her　of　dazzling　brilliancy；　as　if　formed　of　sun…rays。

〃Rise　and　follow　me！〃　cried　a　commanding　voice。　〃The　Great　Kophta
commands　you。　Mask　yourself；　and；　as　your　life　is　dear　to　you；　do
not　raise　it　for　one　instant！〃　Wilhelmine　took　the　mask；　upon　which
flickered　a　little　blue　flame；　and　held　it　close　to　her　face。　〃Pray
in　spirit；　then　follow　me。〃　Wilhelmine　followed　without　opposition
the　bright　form　which　moved　before　her　through　the　dark　rooms。　She
felt　as　if　under　the　influence　of　a　charm；　her　heart　beat　violently；
her　feet　trembled；　but　still　she　felt　no　more　wavering　or　fear；　a
joyous　confidence　filled　her　whole　being。　With　her　eyes　bent　upon
the　moving　form　of　light；　she　went　onward　in　the　obscurity；　and
entered　the　great　drawing…room；　where　profound　darkness　and　silence
reigned。　A　slight　murmur；　as　of　those　in　prayer；　fell　on　her　car；
and　it　seemed　as　if　numberless　black　shadows　were　moving　about。
〃Kneel　and　pray；〃　whispered　a　voice　near　her。　Her　conductor　had
disappeared；　and　the　gloom　of　night　surrounded　her。　Wilhelmine　knelt
as　she　was　bidden；　but　she　could　not　pray；　breathless　expectation
and　eager　curiosity　banished　all　devotion　and　composure。
Occasionally　was　heard；　amid　the　silence　and　darkness；　a　deep　sigh；
a　suppressed　groan；　or　a　shriek；　which　died　away　in　the　murmuring　of
prayer。　Suddenly　a　strange　music　broke　the　stillnesssharp；
piercing　tones；　resonant　as　bells；　and　increasing　in　power；
sometimes　as　rich　and　full　as　the　peals　of　an　organ；　then　gentle　and
soft　as　the　murmuring　wind；　or　a　sorrow…laden　sigh。　Then；　human
voices　joined　the　music；　swelling　it　to　a　wonderful　and　harmonious
choirto　an　inspired　song　of　aspiration；　Of　fervent　expectation；
and　imploring　the　coming　of　him　who　would　bring　glory　and　peace；
filling　the　hearts　of　believers　with　godliness。　The　chorus　of　the
Invisibles　had　not　ceased；　when　a　strange　blue　light　began　to
glimmer　at　the　farther　end　of　the　room；　then　it　shot　like　a　flash
through　the　dark　space。　As　their　dazzled　eyes　were　again　raised；
they　saw　in　a　kind　of　halo；　in　the　midst　of　golden　clouds；　a　tall；
dazzling　figure；　in　a　long；　flowing　robe；　sparkling　with　silver。　The
lovely　bust；　the　beautiful　arms　and　shoulders；　were　covered　with　a
transparent　golden　tissue；　over　which　fell　the　long；　curly　hair　to
the　waist。　A　glittering　band；　sparkling　like　stars；　was　wound
through　the　hair；　which　surrounded　a　feminine　face　of　surpassing
beauty。　Perpetual　youth　glowed　upon　her　full；　rosy　cheeks；　bright
intelligence　beamed　from　the　clear；　lofty　brow；　peace；　joy；　and
happiness；　were　revealed　in　the　smile　of　the　red　lips；　love　and
passion　flashed　from　the　large；　brilliant　eyes。　The　choir　of　the
Invisibles　now　sang　in　jubilant　tones：　〃The　eternal　Virgin；　the
everlasting；　holy；　and　pure　being；　greets　the　erring；　blesses　those
that　seek；　causing　them　to　find；　and　partake　with　joy。〃

The　heavenly　woman　raised　her　lovely　arms；　extending　them　as　if　for
a　tender　embrace。　A　captivating　smile　lighted　up　her　features；　a
fiery　glance　from　her　beautiful　eyes　seemed　to　greet　every　one；
separately；　to　announce　to　them　joy　and　hope。　While　they　regarded
her　entranced　with　delight；　the　golden　cloud　grew　denser；　and
covered　the　virgin　with　her　luminous　veil。　It　then　gradually
disappeared；　with　the　golden　splendor。　The　chorus　of　the　Invisibles
ceased；　and　the　music　died　away　in　gentle　murmurs。　Upon　the　spot
where　the　beaming　apparition　was　visible；　there　now　stood　a　tall
priest；　in　a　long；　flowing　black　robe；　a　pale…blue　light　surrounded
him；　and　rendered　the　dark　outline　distinctly　visible　by　the　clear
background。　Snow…white　hair　and　a　black　mask　made　him　unrecognizable
to　every　one。

Extending　his　arms；　as　if　blessing　them；　the　masked　one　cried：　〃My
beloved；　the　unknown　fathers　of　our　Holy　Order　of　Rosicrucians　send
me　to　you；　and　command　me　to　salute　you　with　the　greeting　of　life。　I
am　to　announce　to　you　that　the　time　of　revelation　approaches；　and
that　the　sublime　mysteries　of　earth　and　Nature　will　soon　be　revealed
to　you。　As　the　rose　is　unfolded　in　her　glowing　red；　which　has　so
long　slept　in　her　lap　of　green　leaves；　you　represent　the　green
leaves；　and　Nature　is　the　rose。　She　will　disclose　herself　to　you
with　all　her　secrets。　In　her　calyx　you　will　find　the　elixir　of　life
and　the　secret　of　gold；　if　you　walk　in　the　path　of　duty；　if　you
exercise　unconditional　obedience　to　the　Invisible　Fathers；　if　you
submit　yourselves　in　blind　confidence　to　their　wisdom；　if　you　swear
to　abstain　from　every　self…inquiry；　and　to　distrust　your　own
understanding。〃　＇Footnote：　So　run　the　very　words　in　the　laws　of　the
Rosicrucians。See　〃New　General　German　Library；〃　vol。　lvi。；　p。　10。＇

〃We　swear　it！〃　cried　solemn　voices　on　all　sides。

〃Swear；　blindly；　silent　obedience　to　all　that　the　Invisible　Fathers
shall　announce　to　you　through　their　directors；　or　shall　order　you
under　the　holy　sign　of　the　Rosicrucians　by　word　or　writing。〃

〃We　swear　it！〃　again　resounded　in　solemn　chorus。

〃Shame；　disgrace；　perdition；　and　destruction；　be　your　curse；〃
thundered　the　priest；　〃if　you　deviate　in　thought　even　from　your
oath；　if　you　seek　to　ponder　and　reflect；　if　you　measure　by　your　own
limited　reason　the　dispositions　and　operations　of　the　sublime
fathers；　to　whom　Nature　has　revealed　herself；　and　to　whom　all　the
secrets　of　heaven　and　earth　are　disclosed。　Eternal　destruction；　and
all　the　tortures　of　hell　and　purgatory；　be　the　portion　of　the
doubting！　Damned　and　proscribed　be　the　traitor　to　the　holy　order！
Listen；　ye　spirits　of　the　deep；　and　ye　spirits　of　darkness；　withdraw
from　here　in　terror；　ere　the　anger　of　the　Invisible　Fathers　fall
upon　you　like　destroying　lightning！　Open；　ye　doors；　that　the　wicked
may　flee；　and　only　the　good　remain！〃

With　a　wave　of　the　hand