loped in a cloak, opened it, and entered, rebolting it.

Slowly turning toward Cagliostro, he harshly demanded, "Whose servant
are you?"

"The servant of the Invisible Rulers and Fathers," he humbly answered.

"Who are the Invisible Fathers?"

"The four ambassadors of the great general of the exiles."

"Call him by that name which he bore before a heretic pope in Rome, a
weak empress, a free-thinking emperor in Germany, a lost-in-sin French
emperor, and a heretic Spanish minister, condemned him to banishment and
destruction."

"General of the Jesuits," he answered respectfully, bowing lower.

"Do you know the sign by which he may be recognized?"

"Yes, by a ring with the likeness of the founder of the order, the holy
Ignatius Loyola."

"Then look, and recognize me," cried the mask, extending his hand to
Cagliostro.

"The General," he murmured, frightened, gazing at the ring upon the
small, white hand of the other. "The holy founder of the order himself!"
He seized his hand and pressed it to his lips, sinking upon his knees.
The mask remained standing before the magician, as lowly as he might bow
himself, who was still arrayed in his brilliant costume with the band
upon his brow sparkling like diamonds.

With a cold, reserved manner he answered, "I am he, and am come here to
give you my commands by word of mouth."

"Command me; I am thy humble servant, and but a weak tool in thy hands."

"It is my will that you should become a powerful tool in my hands. Rise,
for I will speak to the man who must stand erect in the storm. Rise!"
The proud commander was now an humble, obedient servant. He rose slowly,
standing with bowed head.

"When and where did we last meet?" demanded the mask.

"In 1773, at Rome."

"In the year of curse and blasphemy," said the mask, in a harsh voice.
"The year in which the infamous Pope Clement XVI. condemned the holy
order, and hurled his famous bull, Dominus redemptor noster. The holy
order, condemned and disbanded by his infamous mouth, were changed
into holy martyrs, without country, without possessions or rights, as
persecuted fugitives, wandering around the world, to the wicked a scorn,
to the pious a lamentable example of virtue and constancy. Exiled and
persecuted, you fled to a house of one of our order, and there we for
the first time met. The daughter of this man was your beloved. Tell me
why did you conceal yourself after flying from Palermo? I will see if
the elevated