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
stairs--the 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 failed--that 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 beings--who 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. Men talk and reason about the storm and pressure which
is spreading through the world, and finally will reduce every thing to
storm the eternal and undying bliss of wealth, and press on for gold.”
“To think that we have lost every thing!” cried Lorenza, springing up
and stamping with her silken-shod foot; “every thing is lost that I have
been years gaining, by hypocrisy, deception, and coquetry. They have
robbed me! The shameful barbarians have seized all our effects. The
police surrounded the house, guarding every entrance, and we were
obliged to escape by the roof into the house of one of the brothers,
leaving all our treasures behind.”
“You exaggerate, Lorenza, and represent it worse than it is. Look
around; you are surrounded with luxury and comfort. Our great
undertakings in Courland and St. Petersburg have failed, it is true, and
the Russian empress has ordered me to be driven away and pursued. But
the Invisible Fathers have not forsaken me, as they know that I am a
useful tool in their hands. They have carefully provided me with money,
passports, and instructions. We have lost thousands, but we will regain
them, for the future is ours. I am protected by the order, and called
to a new and important mission in Paris, to strive for the sacred aim of
the Church.”
“And have they no mission for me?” asked Lorenza. “Is there nothing
further for me to do in that city than to be a beautiful woman, and play
tricks for my dear husband?”
“Great events await you in Paris, which we will aid you to prepare. The
Invisible Fathers send you before me to the Cardinal de Rohan. You are
going to Paris in the service of the revolution of minds. The carriage
is ordered, and you are to set off this very hour.”
“And when are you going, Joseph?” Lorenza asked, with a touch of
melancholy.
“I shall officially depart in an hour, but in reality at the same
time that the Baroness von Balmore leaves the hotel in her
travelling-carriage. Near the waiting-maid will a servant sit upon the
box. I shall be he.”
“Officially you depart in an hour; what does that mean?” Cagliostro
smiled. “It is a long story and a comical one. Come, seat yourself by
me upon the sofa; repose your head upon me, and listen to what I will
relate to you.”