d 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 who