登陆注册
5196200000050

第50章

They knelt upon the lower step of the throne, with folded hands and bowed heads, praying in a low voice. A solemn stillness reigned, the prayers died away on the lips, and the hearts scarcely beat for anxiety and expectation. Suddenly a voice, which seemed to come from the silver cloud, so distant and lofty, and rolling like majestic thunder, cried, "He comes, the chosen one! The Great Kophta comes!"The folding-doors flew open, and the Great Kophta entered.

Wilhelmine recognized in the majestic figure, enveloped in a flowing, silver-embroidered satin robe, with a band of brilliants around his brow, the handsome face of Cagliostro, beaming as if in an ecstasy. He saluted the brothers with a gentle voice, and bade them approach and touch his hand. As Wilhelmine did so, a thrill ran through her whole being, and she sank overpowered at his feet. He bowed and breathed upon her. "You are chosen, ye heavenly brothers,"he said, in a sweet, melodious voice; "the secrets of heaven and earth are disclosed to you. I receive you in the Holy Order of the Favorites of God, which I founded with Enoch and Elias when we dwelt in the promised land. From them I received the Word of Life, and they sent me to the ancient sages of Egypt, who revealed to me in the pyramids the secret sciences which subject the earth and all her treasures to our command. He who devotes himself to me with fidelity will receive eternal life and the secret of immortality.""We believe in thee, blessed one of God," murmured the kneeling ones; "we know that we receive life and salvation from thee. Bend to us, and give us of the breath of immortality!"He bowed and breathed upon them, and they broke forth in words of thankfulness and delight.

Only Wilhelmine kept silent; she only failed to feel the magical influence, and he bowed again to her, fixing his great fiery eyes upon her. "Thou art called, thou art chosen," he said. "Mount to the tabernacle, and lift the veil."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!"

同类推荐
  • 儒效

    儒效

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 瘟疫门

    瘟疫门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 观音义疏

    观音义疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 曹仁伯医案论

    曹仁伯医案论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上泰清皇老帝君运雷天童隐梵仙经

    太上泰清皇老帝君运雷天童隐梵仙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 天苍黄

    天苍黄

    天地不仁以万物为刍狗!圣人不仁以百姓为刍狗!死里逃生,脱胎换骨。仇人,藏于九地之下!江湖,朝堂,何处寻觅?江湖隐士,遁世仙门,门阀世家,纷纷粉墨登场,数千年前的隐秘被揭开。天道何在!爱恨情仇,如何选择?.........这其实是个复仇的故事,发生在山雨欲来的大晋,搅动风雨的柳寒,则多了一段异世的记忆。糊涂书友群:群1:50219094,群2:201108312
  • 隆冬漳水寒

    隆冬漳水寒

    虚幻的理想与严酷的现实1968年底,我和同学们来到山西,在一个叫长胜的村子里插队落户。去插队那一年,我16岁。同村插队的同学共有20多人。对于上山下乡,我当年曾有过一些极其幼稚的想法。下乡之前,我曾在北京郊区参加学农劳动。那时,上山下乡已经是我们不得不认真考虑的人生抉择。在京郊一座幽静的农家院落中,我见到过几位刚刚落户的知青。我觉得他们无拘无束的田园牧歌式的生活颇有浪漫色彩,很受吸引。我还读过《边疆晓歌》,这本描写支边青年的小说也使我对未来的插队生活产生了美好的联想。
  • 坐着火车去拉萨

    坐着火车去拉萨

    心酸历程,引人深思
  • 逆世特工妃:纤指傲九天

    逆世特工妃:纤指傲九天

    她,是来自现代的顶尖女特工,一次意外的核爆炸将她带到了斗气剑修的世界。当她携带着体内的高科技的微电脑芯片穿越异世,当她拥有了一把隐匿着一方神灵的逆天神器,妖娆一笑间,天下风云为之色变。纤指傲剑,嬉笑弄异世,狂魅戏九天……【男强女强的玄幻爽文】(情节虚构,切勿模仿)
  • 王淦昌传(共和国科学拓荒者传记系列)

    王淦昌传(共和国科学拓荒者传记系列)

    这是一套记述我国著名科学家的成长以及他们艰辛的科研历程的纪实文学作品。这些大科学家走过了近一个世纪的人生历程。他们生在战乱年代,山河破碎、民生凋敝,骨肉同胞饱受欺凌;他们忍辱负重、负笈海外、卧薪尝胆、发奋自强;他们学业有成、毅然归国、隐姓埋名、白手起家、自力更生、科学拓荒,为国家造“争气弹”。以“两弹一星”为标志,他们在国防和高科技领域中取得了重大突破,打破大国封锁与孤立,使新生的共和国政权站稳了脚跟。世纪人生,百年追梦,爱国奉献,砥砺创新,科技强国,这是大科学家们一生的真实写照。这些共和国的功臣,他们都是顶天立地的中国人,是值得历史记住的科学英模。
  • 天下第一修真纨绔

    天下第一修真纨绔

    一个修真界超强的男人,重生在一个世俗世界超级大纨绔的身上,自此牛逼一生开始了。
  • 有爱无爱一身轻

    有爱无爱一身轻

    这是一本应对2008—2010年中国婚恋震荡危机的人生指导书。它集中反映了70,80后人群当下最热门、最聚焦和最棘手的婚姻、恋爱和家庭问题,分析爱情困惑,指点婚恋迷津,解决家庭危机,指导他们重新认识爱情、婚姻、家庭,重新了解、理解伴侣与自我,重新踏上情感路途,重新寻找与塑造更美好的爱情,婚姻和人生。
  • 娘子,别逃了

    娘子,别逃了

    咔嚓……门被打开。黑色的身影站在门外,在龙清清开门的一瞬,叩响了黑色的手枪,待龙清清想要反应的时候已经来不及了。天凤——她的死对头。‘阎罗殿’的头号杀手,两人是在一起被训练的,最后三千人中也只有他们两个坚持到了最后。粉色的身影向后倒去,落进了一个熟悉的怀抱,龙清清看着那张熟悉的,焦急的脸嘴角扯开了一个大大的弧度。假惺惺的男人!也好!她犯了……
  • 中兴间气集

    中兴间气集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 吴郡二科志

    吴郡二科志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。