old fritz and the new era-第63部分

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〃And　I　also　implore　you　to　grant　me　the　happiness　to　watch　over　the
security　of　your　heavenly　self；　and　defend　it　to　the　last　drop　of　my
blood！〃　cried　Woellner；　〃only　tell　us　what　we　have　to　do。〃

〃Above　all　things　obey　my　command　concerning　the　letter；〃　replied
the　count；　smiling。

Bischofswerder　submissively　went　out　with　the　epistle；　returning　in
a　few　moments。　〃It　is　as　you　have　ordered：　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour
it　will　be　in　the　hands　of　Minister　Herzberg。〃

〃No；〃　replied　the　count；　fixing　his　eyes　upon　empty　space；　〃it　will
not　be　there；　for　Herzberg　is　not　at　home。　I　now　see　him　driving　in
a　carriage　with　four　black　steeds　to　the　country。　At　this　instant　he
is　crossing　a　bridge；　now　he　enters　a　town；　turning　down　one　of　the
streets；　where　the　noise　of　the　wheels　is　lost。　Again　I　hear　him；
leaving　by　the　gate；　ascending　a　broad　avenue。〃

It　is　the　route　to　Sans…Souci；〃　murmured　Bischofswerder；　in　a　low
voice；　but　the　count　must　have　understood　him；　as　he　repeated　aloud：

〃Yes；　that　is　the　route　to　Sans…Souci；　and　the　lonely；　fretful　old
king　will　keep　his　minister　the　entire　day；　and　will　not　receive　the
missive　from　his　secret　female　accomplice　until　his　return　in　the
evening；　and　then　he　will　dispatch　his　bailiffs　in　all　haste　to　the
hotel　to　arrest　Count　St。　Julien；　and　forward　an　order　to　every　gate
to　forbid　his　departure。　It　will　be　too　late；　howeverhe　will　have
already　departed。〃

〃Departed1〃　cried　the　two　gentlemen；　frightened。　〃Will　you；　then；
forsake　us？〃

〃Hush；　my　brothers；　be　quiet！〃　answered　Cagliostro。　〃I　shall　have
departed　for　the　profane；　but　I　will　remain　here　for　the　consecrated
until　to…morrow　morning。　It　oft　happens　that　the　lofty　even　must
come　down；　and　the　brilliant　obscure　themselves。　To…day　I　must
descend　from　my　spiritual　height；　and　humble　myself　in　the　dust　of
lowliness。　When　the　unholy　and　unconsecrated　essay　to　behold　that
which　they　should　not　with　their　earthly　eyes；　they　must　be　blinded
with　earthly　dust；　and　for　those　which　are　not　worthy　of　miracles；
we　must　sometimes　condescend　to　jugglers'　tricks。　By　the　latter　I
will　mislead　my　enemies　to…day。　How　many　gates　are　there　to　the　city
of　Berlin？〃

〃There　are　nine；　master。〃

〃Send　immediately　messengers　around　in　your　circles　to　order　eight
travelling…carriages　and　sixteen　large　black　trunks。　Further；　send
me　eight　confidential　discreet　men　of　my　height　and　size；　with　eight
perukes；　exactly　the　cut　of　mine。　Command　four　post…horses；　with　two
postilions　for　eight　different　addresses。　This　is　all　that　is
necessary　for　the　moment。〃

〃All　shall　be　faithfully　and　quickly　accomplished；〃　said
Bischofswerder；　humbly。　〃We　will　divide　the　execution　of　your
orders；　and　there　only　remains　to　appoint　the　time　and　place　when
and　where　to　direct　the　postilions。〃

〃All　this　will　follow；　forget　not；　in　trifling；　earthly　things；　the
great　heavenly　circumstances。　Summon　the　consecrated　of　the　highest
degree　of　your　circle　to　go　to…night　to　the　palace　of　Prince
Frederick　William　at　Potsdam；　and　under　the　very　eyes　of　the　old
freethinking　king　we　will　open　to　the　crown　prince　the　doors　of　the
spiritual　world；　and　consecrate　him　to　the　highest　degree。　But　first
the　Invisibles　shall　speak　with　him；　and　announce　the　heavenly
region　of　the　unapproachable。　Finish　the　preparations；　my　brothers
fulfil　exactly　and　punctually　my　orders；　and　then　come　to　the　hotel
to　receive　my　last　commands。〃




CHAPTER　XXXI。

FUTURE　PLANS。


Cagliostro　quitted　the　two　confidants；　entered　his　carriage　awaiting
him　before　the　door；　and　drove　to　the　hotel。　The　host　and　chief
waiter　received　him　with　extreme　deference；　both　accompanying　him　up
the　stairsthe　latter　throwing　wide　open　the　large　doors　of　his
room。　The　count　turned；　and；　in　addressing　some　indifferent　question
to　the　host；　opened　his　gold…embroidered　blue　satin　vest。

The　host　turned　pale；　and　shrank　back；　as　if　seized　with　a　sudden
fright。　Cagliostro　passed　on；　motioning　him　to　follow；　which　he
humbly　obeyed；　sinking　upon　his　knees　as　the　door　closed。

〃Have　you　recognized　the　sign　which　I　wear　upon　my　breast？〃

〃Yes；　master；〃　he　stammered；　bowing　down　with　the　greatest
reverence。

〃Then　you　belong　to　the　elect　of　the　Inner　Temple；　for　the　sign　of
knowledge　is　only　made　known　to　them。〃

〃I　do；　indeed；　understand　its　mysteries；　master；　and　I　know　that　one
of　the　Invisibles；　in　infinite　condescension；　appears　in　a　visible
form　before　me。　Immeasurable　as　the　happiness；　is　my　obedience！
Command　me；　master；　my　life　and　riches　belong　to　the　holy　alliance！〃

〃Rise　and　receive　my　orders；〃　replied　Cagliostro；　with　great
dignity。　In　a　brief；　dictatorial　manner　he　communicated　the
necessary　arrangements；　then　dismissed　him　with　a　haughty　nod；　and
entered　the　adjoining　room　of　his　wife；　Lorenza　Feliciana。

She　had　thrown　herself　upon　the　divan；　in　charming　neglige。　Her　head
was　encircled　with　black　ringlets；　which　she　wore　unpowdered；
despite　the　fashion。　Her　eyes　were　closed；　and　her　beautiful
shoulders　were　but　half　concealed　by　a　black　lace　veil。

She　slept　so　quietly　and　soundly　that　the　count　did　not　awaken　her
upon　entering。　He　approached　her　lightly　upon　the　soft　carpet；　and
stood　regarding　her　attentively。　A　pleasant　smile　spread　over　his
face；　softening　its　expression；　and　his　eyes　beamed　with　passionate
tenderness。

〃She　is　indeed　beautiful；〃　he　murmured；　softly。　〃No　one　could
withstand　the　charm　of　this　wonderful　woman。　Ah；　would　that　I　could
crush　these　wicked　spirits　within　me；　silence　all　these　seductive；
sinful　voices；　and　fly　to　some　secluded　valley　of　our　dear
fatherland；　and　there；　reposing　on　her　love；　let　life　glide　calmly
on　and　smile　at　the　past　without　regret；　as　a　fading　dream！　Would
that　I　could　forget；　and　become　again　pure　and　innocent；　blest　in　my
affection；　simple　in　my　tastes；　and　without　wants！　But　no；　it　is　too
late！　I　cannot　retreat；　the　demons　will　not　be　driven　out；　to　them
my　soul　belongs；　and　I　must　fulfil　my　destiny！Awake；　Lorenza；
awake！〃　Her　beautiful　form　shook　with　fright；　she　started；　opened
her　eyes；　demanding；　〃What　is　the　matter？　Who　is　here？〃

〃It　is　I；　Lorenza；〃　he　said；　sadly；　〃I　was　obliged　to　awaken　you；　to
tell　you　something　important。〃

〃Are　the　pursuers　here？　Have　they　discovered　us？　Are　they　coming　to
take　us　to　prison？〃

〃No；　no；　be　quiet；　Lorenza；　no　one　has　discovered　us！〃

〃Quiet！〃　she　repeated；　with　a　scornful　laugh。　〃We　have　travelled　day
and　night　the　last　ten　days；　hiding　ourselves　in　miserable　holes　and
dens；　under　assumed　names；　believing　our　pursuers　were　at　our　hacks；
and　now　that　we　are　showing　ourselves　publicly；　you　ask　me　to　be
quiet！　I　have　slept　for　the　first　time　since　that　fearful　night　in
Mittau；　and　it　is　very　cruel　and　thoughtless　of　you　to　wake　me；　if
the　bailiffs　are　not　here；　and　danger　does　not　menace　us。〃

〃For　the　moment　we　are　safe；　but　I　have　something　important　to　tell
you。〃

〃Important？〃　she　cried；　shrugging　her　shoulders。　〃What　is　of
consequence　to　me；　since　that　night？　Oh；　when　I　think　of　it；　I　could
shriek　with　rage；　I　could　annihilate　myself　in　despair！〃

〃It　was　indeed　a　dreadful　experience；　and　my　heart　quakes　when　I
think　of　it；〃　said　Cagliostro；　gloomily。　〃The　secret　assembly
consisted　of　the　highest　and　most　influential　of　the　Courland
nobility。　Suspecting　no　wrong；　not　even　that　there　could　be　traitors
among　the　believers　who　would　falsify　my　spirit　apparatus；　I　gave
myself　up　to　conjuring　the　departed。〃

〃And　I　upon　my　fairy　throne；〃　added　Lorenza；　〃couched　in　the
innocent　costume　of　the　celestial；　only　veiled　with　a　silvery　cloud；
heard　a　sudden　shriek。　The　room　was　quite　dark；　I　saw；　upon　opening
my　eyes；　that　no　spirits　enlivened　it。〃

〃Every　thing　failedthat　is　to　say；　my　assistants　let　it　fail；〃
said　the　count；　〃and　the　assembly　began　to　murmur。　Suddenly；　instead
of　the　departed　princes　and　heroes；　what　fearful　forms　arose！〃

〃Apes；　cats；　and　other　animals；〃　cried　Lorenza；　with　a　loud　laugh。
〃Oh；　what　an　irresistible　sight！　In　spite　of　my　anger　I　had　to
laugh；　and　laugh　I　did　upon　the　fairy　throne；　like〃

〃Like　a　foolish　child　who　neither　knows　nor　understands　danger；〃
interrupted　the　count。　〃Your　laughing　soon　ceased　in　the　fearful
tumult　and　uproar。　They　shrieked　for　light；　the　ladies　fled；　and　the
men　menaced　me　with　loud　curses；　calling　me　a　charlatan；　and
threatening　my　life！〃

〃Mine　also；〃　cried　Lorenza；　〃oh；　what　insults　and　ill…treatment　I
was　forced　to　listen　to！　They　rushed　upon　me；　shrieking　for　the
brilliants　and　money　which　they　had　brought　me　as　an　offering。　How
they　scolded　and　called　me　a　deceiver！　I　was　only　very　beautiful　and
coquettish；　and　that　was　no　deception！　I　charmed　them　with　my
coyness；　and　they　brought　me　the　most　costly　presents；　because　I　was
a　virtuous　woman。　Now　they　reproached　me；　demanding　a　return　of　them
all；　which　they　had　forced　upon　me　of　their　own　free　will。　I　was
obliged　to　bear　it　silently　in　my　costume　of　innocence；　and　as
goddess　I　could　not　defend　myself　and　speak　with　human　beingswho
pushed　up　to　the　throne。　It　was　a　very　ridiculous　position；　happily
I　did　not　quite　lose　my　senses；　but　let　the　apparatus　play；　and
disappeared　into　my　dressing…room　below；　which　fortunately　closed
above　me。　I　dressed；　and　rushed　to　your　room　to　rescue　my
treasures。〃

〃Even　in　this　extreme　danger　you　only　thought　of　your　riches；　not　of
me；〃　said　Cagliostro；　with　a　bitter　smile。

〃Have　you　not　taught　me　yourself　that　money　was　the　only　thing　worth
striving　to　possess？　Have　you　not　revealed　to　in　wisdom　that　riches
alone　make　us　happy；　and　procure　for　us　honor；　power；　love；　and
constancy？　Ah！　Joseph；　have　you　not　made　me　the　miserable；　heartless
creature　that　I　am？　Can　you　reproach　me　that　your　teaching　has　borne
such　good　fruit？　I　am　happy　to　be　the　priestess　of　wealth；　and
grateful　for　what　you　have　made　known　to　me。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　sighed　Cagliostro；　〃I　have　taught　you　the　truth　of
things；　I　have　disclosed　to　you　the　world's　motive　power。　Riches　are
indeed　the　god　upon　earth；　toward　whom　all　are　pressing；　rushing　on。
We　must　all　follow　and　serve　him　as　slaves；　or　be　crushed　under　the
wheels　of　his　triumphal　car。　Me