“Don’t you believe that I had taken the necessary precaution? Even if you had seen the mirror, yet you would not have discovered its effect. I was, however, pretty sure that you would not enter into an examination, being well aware that you would have no inclination of doing it, because I had desired you to make every investigation you should wish, and thus prompted you to believe that I apprehended no discovery.”
“However, the phantom spoke, how could that be?”
“Not the phantom, but Count Clairval, who was in the gallery of the chapel, spoke through a speaking trumpet. The direction of the trumpet, and the striking resemblance the phantom bore to your tutor, induced you to attribute the words which he pronounced to the vision.”
“Hiermanfor,” said I after a pause, “then your last miracle too was a delusion?”
“You have my confession.”
“And nevertheless you assured me so solemnly that it was the work of super-natural power!”
“I did so; but I intended to recant after the end which I had in view should have been attained. Unforeseen incidents prevented me from doing it sooner.”
“Why did not Count Clairval recant in your name, when I entreated him so solemnly and so pressing to confess the fraud?”
“He had received no orders to that purpose.”
“You promised me, one time, to initiate me in a new philosophy, and to introduce me to an happiness that is concealed from other mortals.”