old fritz and the new era-第28部分

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bear　eternal　life　in　them；　and　there　will　a　day　come　when　they　will
burst　forth　from　darkness　into　light。　Go；　my　son；　and　help　prepare
the　day；　help　smooth　the　way；　that　we　may　walk　therein。　Have　you
obeyed？〃

〃I　have　consecrated　my　whole　life　to　it；　your　eminence。　I　have
wandered　around　the　world；　and　everywhere　striven　to　disseminate　the
doctrine　of　the　Invisible　Fathers；　and　win　disciples　and　adherents
to　the　order。　The　Brothers　of　the　Egyptian　Masons；　the　Brothers　of
the　Rosicrucians；　are　the　disciples　which　I　have　won；　and　you　know
well　there　are　many　mighty　and　illustrious　men　among　them。〃

〃I　know　it；　and　I　am　satisfied　you　are　an　active　and　useful　tool。
This　I　came　to　tell　you；　that　I　might　stimulate　and　advise　you。
Great　deeds　you　shall　perform；　great　achievements　the　holy　Ignatius
Loyola　announces　by　my　mouth。　The　world　lies　in　sin；　and　the　devil
strides　victorious　over　it；　since　the　holy　order　has　been　proscribed
and　persecuted　by　the　wicked。　The　devil　is　arrogant　progress　and
boasting　reason。　They　who　listen　to　him　think　themselves　wise　when
they　are　fools；　and　speak　of　their　enlightenment　while　they　still
wander　in　the　dark。　To　combat　this　reason；　to　oppose　this
intelligence；　is　the　task　of　our　order；　which　will　never　die。　For
God　Sent　it　forth　to　the　world　to　fight　the　devil　of　progress；　who
is　the　ruler　of　darkness。　I　have　observed　you；　I　have　followed　you；
and　I　am　satisfied。　But　I　await　still　greater　things　from　you。〃

〃What　shall　it　be？　Speak；　O　master；　command；　and　I　obey！〃

〃You　shall　strive　throughout　Europe　for　the　restitution　of　the　holy
order。　You　shall　subject　to　it　all　minds；　make　the　rich；　the
powerful；　the　eminent　and　great；　serviceable　to　it。　Into　the　Orders
of　the　Rosicrucians　and　Egyptian　Masons　you　shall　gather　all　the
stray　and　isolated　sheep　into　a　flock；　to　await　with　longing　the
coming　of　the　shepherd；　and　prepare　a　place　for　him。　To　the　holy
Church　you　shall　consecrate　the　band　of　brothers；　the　only　blessed
Church；　which　is　the　lofty　abode　of　the　father　of　our　order。　To　us
belongs　the　world；　you　shall　assist　to　reconquer　it。　Unbelievers
shall　be　fought　with　every　weapon。　Every　deception；　slander；
persecution；　and　murder；　are　holy　if　used　for　the　benefit　of　the
holy　order。　You　shall　shrink　from　nothing　which　is　useful　and
beneficial　for　the　sublime　goal。　The　murder　of　a　prince　is　no　sin；
but　a　just　punishment；　when　it　is　necessary　to　remove　a　mighty
enemy。　If　you　create　revolutions；　cause　nations　to　tear　each　other
to　pieces　in　grim　civil　war；　these　revolutions　will　be　sanctified；
the　civil　wars　blessed；　if　they　serve　to　strengthen　the　power　of　our
order；　and　gain　victory　at　last　against　the　opponents。　Only　through
our　order　can　happiness　reenter　the　world；　and　mankind　be　rescued。
If　the　Holy　Fathers　do　not　sit　in　the　council　of　princes；　if　they
are　not　the　conscience　of　the　powerful；　and　steer　the　machine　of
state；　the　world　goes　to　destruction；　and　mankind　is　lost。　You　shall
help；　my　son；　to　turn　aside　the　evil；　and　prepare　happiness　for
earth。　You　have　already　done　much；　but　much　more　is　required。　Go　and
work　miracles；　belief　in　them　sanctifies　the　mind。　Our　fathers　will
sustain　you　everywhere；　for　you　well　know　they　are　always　present；
though　it　is　imagined　they　are　not。　The　infamous　Ganganelli　has
stripped　them　of　their　uniform；　but　not　annihilated　them；　as　we　are；
and　ever　shall　be。　I　have　sent　out　nine　thousand　brothers　in　Europe
for　the　benefit　of　the　order；　and　you　will　recognize　them　by　the
watchword。　They　will　serve　you　as　you　will　serve　them。　If　danger
menaces　you；　our　brothers　will　know　it；　and　rescue　you。　You　will　be
unassailable；　so　long　as　you　work　for　the　order；　and　win　disciples
for　it。　Prussia　is　our　important　station　as　you　rightly　judged；　and
I　extol　you　for　your　foresight。　You　prepare　the　future；　for　here　it
will　be！　When　the　royal　mocker　of　religion　dies；　then　comes　a　new
kingdom；　and　the　Rosicrucians　will　rise　to　power。　Vices　as　well　as
virtues　must　serve　us；　therefore　Dischofswerder　and　Wilhelmine　Enke
are　useful　means　for　holy　purposes。　That　you　have　recognized　it　I
praise　you。　Continue；　my　son；　as　you　have　begun；　and　you　shall
become　powerful　upon　the　earth。　Not　a　hair　of　your　head　shall　be
touched　so　long　as　you　are　faithful　to　the　Invisible　Fathers。　But　so
soon　as　you　turn　traitor　to　the　holy　cause　you　are　lost；　and　our
anger　will　crush　you！〃

〃Never　will　I　turn　traitor；〃　cried　Cagliostro；　holding　up　his　hands
as　if　taking　an　oath。

〃I　hope　not。　Our　enemies　shall　be　your　enemies；　and　our　friends　your
friends。　If　one　of　the　brothers　orders　you　in　my　name；　'Kill　this
man　or　that　woman；'　so　kill　them！　Swear　it！〃

Shuddering；　Cagliostro　repeated；　〃I　swear　it！〃

〃As　soon　as　one　of　the　brothers　orders　you；　in　my　name；　'Rescue　this
man　or　that　woman；'　so　do　every　thing；　even　risk　and　sacrifice　your
life　to　rescue　him。〃

〃I　swear　it。〃

〃You　stand　in　the　holy　temple　of　the　order；　but　also　under　its
avenging　sword。　Be　mindful　of　it　in　all　your　acts。　The　world　is　open
to　you；　and　our　influence　will　be　with　you　everywhere。　You　shall　win
the　hearts　of　the　great　and　the　mighty　to　us；　and　place　the　Order　of
the　Rosicrucians　on　the　steps　of　the　throne。　The　Great　Kophta　shall
lead　believers　to　us。〃

〃The　Great　Kophta　will　perform　all　that　you　command；　as　he　is　only
the　humble　servant　of　his　general；〃　said　Cagliostro；　kissing　the
hand　extended　to　him。

〃Do　not　kiss　the　hand；　it　is　only　that　of　an　inferior　mortal：　kiss
the　ring；　for　it　is　the　imperishable　sign　of　our　immortal　saint。〃

〃I　kiss　the　ring　of　the　immortal　Ignatius　Loyola；　and　swear　eternal
fidelity；　constant　obedience；　and　firm　love；　until　death。〃

〃Rise！　for　the　time　has　come　for　us　to　separate。　I　have　provided　for
the　journeys　the　necessary　means。　Here　are　letters　of　recommendation
to　Warsaw　and　Mittau；　others　to　Paris　and　London；　but；　the　most
important　of　all；　letters　of　credit　upon　well…known　bankers　to　the
value　of　five　hundred　thousand　dollarsall　valid；　though　delivered
years　hence。〃

〃A　half　million！〃　cried　Cagliostro；　almost　terrified。

〃Does　a　half　million　astonish　you？〃　repeated　the　General；　and　his
gray；　fleshless　face　was　distorted　into　a　smile。　〃The　Great　Kophta
must　travel　and　live　like　a　prince；　that　he　may　dazzle　the　eyes　of
the　brothers；　and　subjugate　the　minds　of　the　powerful。　We　give　you
the　money；　but　remember　you　are　always　under　the　watchful　eye　of　the
order；　and　there　is　no　spot　on　earth　where　you　can　hide　yourself
from　our　vengeance　with　the　trust　confided　in　you。　You　shall　spend
it　to　buy　souls　and　win　thrones；　for　hearts　and　consciences　are
sold；　money　will　buy　every　thing。　Take　your　letters　of　credit；　you
shall　live　as　a　great　lord；　and　the　Great　Kophta　shall　be　equal　with
princes。〃

He　handed　Cagliostro　five　sealed　letters；　saying：　〃They　are　made　out
for　five　years；　only　one　for　each　year；　as　the　number　indicates。
Number　one　is　for　this　year；　and　number　five　is　only　valid　at　the
expiration　of　five　years。　The　order　is　mindful　of　your　security；　and
thus　five　years　of　your　life　are　freed　from　earthly　care。　You　shall
work　in　spirit；　and　you　shall　enchant　the　world；　that　it　may　be
saved　through　the　only　saving　Church；　and　the　Holy　Order。〃

He　bowed　a　farewell；　making　the　sign　of　the　cross　upon　Cagliostro；
and　bent　his　steps　to　the　throne；　raising　the　veil　which　enveloped
Lorenza。　She　looked　up　to　him　with　glowing　cheeks　and　sparkling
eyes；　smiling。　By　this　she　would　express　her　thanks　for　the　princely
gift　to　her　husband；　and　swear　to　the　General　her　delight；　her
fidelity；　and　love。　He　regarded　her　as　coldly　and　calmly　as　a
physician　a　patient。

〃Yes；　holy　father；　I　have　heard　all；〃　she　said；　with　a　sweet；　flute…
like　voice。　〃My　heart　is　filled　with　gratitude　and　emotion。〃

〃Prove　it　by　assisting　your　husband　to　attain　the　goal　for　which　we
send　him　forth。　I　have　already　said　that　vice　must　serve　virtue；
Lorenza。　Beauty　is　a　power；　and　if　it　serves　holy　purposes；　so　is　it
sanctified。　Employ　your　beauty　to　win　adherents　to　the　order；　and
extend　the　power　of　the　Rosicrucians　in　every　land；　and　among　all
nations。〃

〃I　swear　that　this　shall　be　my　holiest　endeavor；〃　cried　Lorenza；
rising。

The　General　pressed　her　back　upon　the　pillow；　saying：　〃Remain；　for
there　is　no　one　here　for　you　to　enchant。　I　bring　you　pardon　for　your
sins；　and　an　indulgence　for　every　sin　which　you　will　commit；　if　you
swear　to　serve　faithfully　the　holy　Church　and　the　pious　fathers　of
Jesus。〃

〃I　swear；〃　solemnly　cried　Lorenza。

〃Here　is　the　letter　of　indulgence　from　Pius　VI。　himself；　made　out　in
your　name　for　you。　Take　it；　and　perform　your　duty。〃　He　laid　down　the
parchment　provided　with　the　papal　seal　upon　her　shoulder；　and
drawing　the　veil　over　her　made　the　sign　of　the　cross；　saying；　〃I
bless　you；　and　give　you　absolution　for　your　sins。〃

〃Bless　me　also；　lord　and　master；〃　cried　Cagliostro；　kneeling　upon
the　lowest　step　to　the　throne。

〃I　bless　you　in　the　name　of　Loyola。　Remain　upon　your　knees；　and
follow　me　not。〃　He　extended　his　hands　over　him；　and　blessed　him；
then　slowly　withdrew。

The　first　beams　of　the　morning　sun　shone　through　the　great　window…
panes；　lighting　up　with　its　golden　rays　Cagliostro's　kneeling　form。
He　remained　with　his　head　bowed　until　the　General　had　passed　out。
〃He　is　gone；　Heaven　be　praised；　he　is　gone！〃

〃Yes；　he　is　gone；〃　repeated　Lorenza；　springing　from　the　couch。　〃Is
it　true；　has　he　given　you　half　a　million？〃

Cagliostro　held　up　with　triumphant　air　the　letters。　〃See；　these
addresses　are　upon　the　first　banking…houses　in　Rome；　Paris；　London；
and　Berlin！〃

〃Do　you　believe　that　they　are　genuine？〃

〃I　am　convinced　of　it。〃

〃Then　we　have　attained　our　aim；　we　are　rich　and　powerful。〃

〃No；〃　answered　Cagliostro；　mournfully；　〃we　are　poorer　than　ever。
This　money　makes　us　slaves；　makes　us　dependent　tools。　Did　you　not
hear　him　say；　'You　are　admitted　into　the　Temple；　but　the　avenging
sword　of　the　order　everywhere　hangs　over　you。'〃




CHAPTER　XIII。

A　PENSIONED　GENERAL。


〃Wife；〃　cried　the　General　von　Werrig；　limping　around　the　room；
leaning　upon　his　crutch；　〃here　is　the　answer　from　our　most　gracious
lord　and　king。　The　courier　ar