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If he had been left to consult his own heart, he would not probably have had sufficient resolution to have done this; Bischofswerder and Woellner never left him for a moment, as they said the Invisible Fathers had commanded them to tarry with the much-loved brother in these first days of trial and temptation, and to elevate and gladden him with edifying conversations and scientific investigations.
"Do you think, Herr Magus, any of them could be found in the eyes of Colonel Bischofswerder and his intimate friend Woellner? Do you pretend that they also weep over me?" "They do not belong to the Invisibles, but the Visibles. But their souls are true and faithful, and would have to mourn over the unhappy one who could forget her vows."
"I am fearfully hungry," groaned Bischofswerder; "besides, the air is suffocating. I am resolved to go to extremes, and make a noise." He rushed like a caged boar from one door to the other, shrieking for the lackey to open the door; but as before, a loud bark was the only response. "The Lord has forsaken us," whimpered Woellner. "The sublime Fathers have turned their faces away from us.
"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.
In the evenings they communed with the spirits of the distinguished departed, which, moved at the earnest prayers of Woellner, and the fervent exhortation of the crown prince, always had the goodness to appear, and witness their satisfaction for their much-loved son, as they called him, for continuing brave and faithful, and not falling into the unholy snares of the seductress.
Against two Samsons the most artful and beautiful Delilah is not wary enough; and if we cannot conquer her, we must resort to other means." "What may they be, dear brother?" "We must compromise the matter." Woellner sprang up, and a flush of anger or from champagne overspread his face "Compromise with the sinful creature!" he cried, impetuously.
"Sire," stammered Bischofswerder, "we have tried to summon spirits." "And I too," cried the king, "only they will not come; therefore I wished to see the enchanters, and would like to purchase the secret." "Pardon me, most gracious sire," said Woellner, humbly, "you must first be received in the holy order of the Rosicrucians."
Unobserved and free to act, he read it, and as he sat musingly thinking over its contents, so tender and affectionate, he re-read it, and rising, made a bold resolve, his face beaming with happiness, to order his carriage, which he did, and in a few moments more drove at full speed away from the palace. Bischofswerder and Woellner, in the mean time, arrived at Sans-Souci.
Bischofswerder and Woellner recognized this difficulty, and applied themselves the more energetically for its removal. They supposed that the unexpected arrival of Cagliostro would very naturally appear to the prince as a special messenger, sent, without doubt, from the fathers, to accomplish his conversion.
"It will be my holy duty to follow strictly your majesty's commands," said Bischofswerder. "And I also will strive to promote the will of my king," asserted Woellner. "It will be necessary to do so, or you two gentlemen may find yourselves at Spandau. I would say to you once for all, I will not suffer any sects; every one can worship God in his own way.
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