She did as commanded, and beheld the figure of a wonderful woman stretched upon the couch as in deep sleep, clothed in transparent robes. “Lay your hand upon her brow, and direct in your thoughts a question to the prophetess of the order, and she will answer you!” Upon the lofty, white brow of the sleeping one, she laid her hand; immediately a smile flitted over her beautiful face, and she nodded. “Yes,” said she, “you must believe. You dare not doubt. He is the elect, the holy Magus!” Wilhelmine trembled, for the answer was suited to the question. “Demand a second question of the prophetess,” commanded Cagliostro. Again she laid her hand upon the brow of the sleeping one, and again she smiled and nodded with her beautiful head. “Fear not,” she replied; “he will always love you, and will never reject you, only you must not lead him astray from the right course—but guide him to the temple of faith and knowledge. When you cease to do it, you are lost. Shame upon earth and damnation will be your portion.” The answer was exact—for Wilhelmine had prayed to know if the prince would always love and never reject her. “Still a third question,” cried Cagliostro. In silence Wilhelmine asked, and the prophetess answered aloud: “You will be countess, you will become a princess, you will possess millions, you will have the whole world at your feet, if you call to your aid the Invisible Fathers, and implore the power and miraculous blessing of the Great Kophta.” Wilhelmine, deeply moved, sank overpowered upon her knees, and cried aloud: “I call upon the Invisible Fathers for aid and assistance; I implore the power and miraculous blessing of the Great Kophta.” Suddenly, amid the rolling of thunder and intense darkness, Wilhelmine felt herself lifted up—borne away, as loud prayers were uttered around her. Then she felt herself lowered again and with the freedom of motion. “Fly! fly from the revenge of the immortals, if you still doubt, still mistrust!” cried a fearful voice above her. “Behold how the immortals revenge themselves.” Immediately a light began to dawn before her, a form rose from the darkness like her own. She beheld herself kneeling, imploring, her face deluged with tears, and before her a tall, erect, muffled figure, with a glittering sword in his uplifted arm, which sank gradually lower and lower until it pierced her bosom and the blood gushed forth. Wilhelmine shrieked and fainted. She witnessed no more miracles, beard no more prophecies and revelations which the magi made to the elect. She beheld not the appearance of the blessed spirits, which at the importunity of the brothers flitted through the apartment. She heard not Cagliostro take leave of Baron von Bischofswerder, when all had withdrawn, saying, “I have now exalted you to be chief director of the holy order. You will at once receive orders from the Invisible Fathers, announced to you in writing, and you will follow them faithfully.”
“I will follow them faithfully,” humbly answered Bischofswerder.
“You will be rewarded by the knowledge of life and of money; you shall discover the philosopher’s stone, and the secret of gold shall be revealed to you, when you perform what the Invisible Fathers demand.”
“I will do every thing,” cried Bischofswerder, fervently; “only make known to me their commands.”
“They desire, at the present, that you seek to be the confidant of the Prince of Prussia. Gain his affection, then govern him, making yourself indispensable to him. Surround him with servants and confidants that you can rely upon. Inspire him with devotion to the holy order. Become, now, the friend of the prince, that you may, one day, rule the king. You are the chief of the order in Prussia; the more members you gain the more secrets will be revealed to you. The holy fathers send me afar, but I shall return: if you have been active and faithful, I will make known to you a great secret and bring you the elixir of life.”
“When will you return, master?” asked Bisehofswerder, enthusiastically.
Cagliostro smiled. “Before the crown prince of Prussia becomes king. Ask no further. Be faithful!”
CHAPTER XII. THE JESUIT GENERAL
No one remained in the drawing-room but Cagliostro and the beautiful woman who still lay quietly on the couch, upon the throne. Cagliostro approached her, and, raising the veil, regarded her a moment, with an expression of the most passionate tenderness: “We are alone, Lorenza,” said he. She opened her great eyes, and looked around the dimly-lighted room; then, fixing them upon Cagliostro, who stood before her in his brilliant costume of magician, she burst into a merry laugh, so loud and so irresistible, that Cagliostro was seized involuntarily, and joined her.