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old fritz and the new era-第61部分

小说: old fritz and the new era 字数: 每页4000字

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church; the Greek temple。 It is possible my life may not be a godly
one; but it is as happy as the gods; and that is something in this
tedious world。〃

〃I regard you with astonishment;〃 said Cagliostro; 〃for I recognize
in your countenance that the devil has won you over to his power;
and in you he speaks with the bold insolence of the sinful。 Subdue;
unhappy child; your rash speech; that the Fathers may not hear of
it; and crush you in their wrath。〃

〃I do not fear their thunderbolts; permit me to tell you。 We are in
Prussia; the great king watches over all his subjects; neither the
Romish Church nor the Rosicrucians can obscure the light of
knowledge。 He will not suffer a ghost; sneaking in the dark; to
exercise power here; and he will not refuse the protection to me
which is accorded to the least of his subjects。 I do not fear you;
and I will tell you the truth entire; I believe you to be a
hypocrite and a charlatan; who〃

〃Miserable one!〃 interrupted Cagliostro; as he furiously rushed to
her; seizing her by the arm〃cease; unhappy one; or your life is
forfeited to the invisible avengers!〃

Wilhelmine shook her head; and encountered his flaming eyes with a
proud glance。 〃I repeat your own wordscease; or your life will be
forfeited! Perhaps you think I do not know what happened to you in
Mittau; where you were recognized as a charlatan; who fooled the
poor creatures into the belief of his miraculous acts; which
consisted in lightening their purses to the benefit of his own。 You
were obliged to flee from MitLau in the night; to save yourself;
your treasures; and wonderful man…traps; and the beautiful Lorenza
Feliciana。 Beware! The Empress of Russia had a certain Joseph
Balsamo pursued; who had practised great deception; and people
pretend that he resembles Count Cagliostro。 The Empress Catherine is
a good friend and ally of the King of Prussia; and if the happy idea
should occur to me to propose seeking the necromancer here; the
Great Kophta might come a miserable end。〃

〃On the contrary; it would only be a welcome occasion for the Great
Kophta to reveal himself; and hurl his despicable; malicious enemy
into the dust at his feet;〃 replied Cagliostro; calmly。 〃Try it; you
faithless; fallen daughter of the Invisiblestry to unloose the
pack of my enemies; to recognize that all their yelling and barking
does not trouble the noble stag to whom God has given the whole
world for His forestward that He should rule therein。 I have
listened to you unto the end; and I regard your invectives and
accusations as not worthy of a reply or justification; and I laugh
at your menaces。 But I warn you; Wilhelmine Enke; defy not the
Invisibles; and offend not the Holy Fathers; by your continued
resistance。 Turn; misguided child of sinturn while there is yet
time! In their name I offer you a last chance; their forbearance is
without bounds; and their mercy long enduring。〃

〃I neither desire your forbearance nor mercy;〃 cried she; proudly。
〃I will have no companionship with my enemies; and the Rosicrucians
are such; for Bischofswerder and Woellner both hate me; and would
put me aside。 There is no reconciliation where only hostility is
possible。〃

〃The heavenly listen not to the voices of the earthly; and prove
themselves; the most noble when the least deserved。 They will
protect and watch over you; even against your will; and never will
they be deaf to your cry for aid in the hour of Here is a token of
their grace toward you。 Take this ringdo you recognize it?〃

Wilhelmine regarded it attentively。 〃This is the ring which I gave
at the tribute…altar instead of gold; which you desired。〃

〃The Invisibles sent it to you to…day as the precious pledge of
their favor。 You shall keep it; and wear it as a token of their
heavenly forbearance; and when you turn back from the erroneous ways
into which the Illuminati have led you; send it to the circle of
Berlin directors; either Bischofswerder or Wollner; and they will
come to your rescue。 Farewell! I forgive you all your wicked words;
which fall like spent arrows from the helmet of my righteousness。〃

Cagliostro turned proudly away; and disappeared in the bushes。

Wilhelmine placed the ring upon her finger; turning it to watch the
play of colors。 〃I do not know why;〃 said she; 〃but it has not the
same brilliancy as formerly。 I will take it to the jeweller Wagner;
and ask him if it is the same stone。 Perhaps the Great Kophta has
tried some of his miracles upon it。 I will at once send the servant
to Minister von Herzberg; and inform him that Cagliostro is here。 He
has promised me protection in the name of the king; and I feel that
I shall now have need of it。〃

She hurried to the house; and devoted herself to the writing of the
said lettera task she was but little accustomed to。 She had
learned to speak French very prettily; and to express herself
skilfully and wittily in German; and under her royal master; the
crown prince Frederick William; gained much valuable scientific
knowledge。 But to write fluently was quite another thing; and it was
a long time before the epistle was finished。 However; happily
accomplished; she commanded the servant to take it to Berlin。

He bowed with silent submission; but once having quitted the house;
a cunning smile was visible upon his face; and he availed himself of
a stage…coach which was going in the same direction。 〃I can afford
this expense;〃 said he; arranging himself comfortably。 〃When I have
money in my pocket why should I walk the long distance? I was very
clever to tell Bischofswerder that the Minister von Herzberg had
secretly visited my mistress; and it was equally clever of him to
give me a louis d'or; and promise me the same every time that I
should bring him important news。 Indeed; I think to…day he may well
thank me; and I believe; if I often inform him; he will advance me a
degree; and at last I shall be admitted to the circle of the elect;
while I now belong to the outside circle; who know nothing and hope
every thing。〃




CHAPTER XXX。

THE TRIUMVIRATE。


While Wilhelmine's servant gave himself up to his hopes; slowly down
the broad avenue; an elegant four…in…hand carriage rolled past him;
and stopped at the house where lived Colonel Bischofswerder; long
before he had reached the Brandenburg Gate。 A gentleman sprang out;
hastening past the footman into the house; where a servant evidently
awaited his arrival; and preceded him with devout mien; throwing
open the wide folding…doors and announcing; in a solemn voice〃 His
excellency; Count Cagliostro。〃 He then respectfully withdrew; bowing
profoundly as the count passed; and closed quickly and noiselessly
the doors behind him。

The two gentlemen within hastened to meet the count; who nodded
smilingly; and extended to them with a gracious condescension his
white hand sparkling with diamonds。 〃My dear brothers;〃 said he;
〃you have unfortunately announced me the truthWilhelmine Enke is
faithlessis an apostate。〃

〃A courtesan; ensnared by the devil of unchastity;〃 murmured the
elder of the twoa man of long; lank figure; pale; pock…marked
face; the broad high forehead shaded with but little hair; the
watery blue eyes turned upward; as if in pious ecstasy; and the
large; bony hands either folded as if in prayer; or as if in quiet
contemplation; twirling his thumbs around each other。 〃I have always
said so;〃 said he; with a long…drawn sigh; 〃she is a temptress; whom
Satan; in bodily repetition of himself; has placed by the prince's
side; and his salvation cannot be counted upon until this person is
removed。〃

〃And you; my beloved brother; think otherwisedo you not?〃 asked
Cagliostro; gently。

〃Yes;〃 answered Bischofswerder; 〃you know well; sublime master and
ruler; how much I esteem and love the worthy and honorable Wollner;
and how much weight his opinion has with me。 In all my reports to
the Invisible Fathers I have always particularly mentioned him; and
it was upon my wish and proposal that they appointed him director of
one of the three Berlin circles。 He is occupied near me in the
confederacy; and is also in the service of the crown prince; for it
was by my especial; earnest recommendation that his highness called
him to Berlin from the exchequer of Prince Henry at Rheinsberg; that
he might give him lectures in politics and other branches of
administration; I do not say it to boast; although I have always
regarded it as an honor to have opened the way to a distinguished
man; to have his great talents properly valued。 I only say it to
prove my high appreciation of dear brother Wollner; and to defend
myself; master; in your eyes; that I differ in opinion from him; and
do not advise a violent removal of this person; to whom the prince
is more attached than he himself knows of。〃

〃It is not necessary to excuse yourself to me; my son;〃 said
Cagliostro; pompously。 〃The eyes which the Invisibles have lighted
up with a beam of revelation; see into the depths of things; and
reveal the most hidden。 I have glanced into your hearts; and I will
tell you that which I have therein read。 You; Hans Rudolph von
Bischofswerder; belong to the world; its joys and sorrows agitate
you。 You have a longing for science and the knowledge of the
Invisibles; and you would also enjoy the Visibles; and take part in
the pleasures of life。 What you would allow yourself; that you would
also grant to your royal master; whose friend and leader you are;
and who; one day; will be the future king and ruler of the visible
world; and a faithful son and servant of the Invisibles。 Is it not
thus?〃

〃It is so;〃 answered Bischofswerder; who; with wondering
astonishment; drank in every word that fell from Cagliostro's lips
as a revelation。 〃You have read the inmost thoughts of my heart; and
what I scarcely suspected myself; you are knowing of; lord and
master。〃

〃Toil and strive; my son; and you shall rise to the highest grade;
in which presentiment and recognition; thinking and knowing; are
one。〃

He extended to Bischofswerder his hand; who fervently pressed it to
his lips; then turned to Wollner; who; with upturned gaze and folded
hands; might have been praying; for his thumbs were not tu

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