into spiritual servitude, that they
may become the slaves of their will. You call them 'Illuminati,' while
they have undertaken to illuminate the minds with the beams of knowledge
which the Rosicrucians obscure in a mystical fog."

"Unhappy one, do you dare to say that to me?" cried Cagliostro,
menacingly.

"Yes," she responded, keeping her large, brown eyes firmly fixed upon
Cagliostro's angry face. "That I dare to repeat to you, and I would also
remark that we are not in the mystical assembly of the Rosicrucians,
and your familiar 'Du' is out of place. I belong to the Illuminati, and
mingle with the freethinkers. They have not, indeed, promised me titles,
honors, or dignities, but they have amused me, have driven ennui from
the house, and instead of mysticisms, brought me poesy, and instead of
the invisible holy church, the Greek temple. It is possible my life
may not be a godly one, but it is as happy as the gods, and that is
something in this tedious world."

"I regard you with astonishment," said Cagliostro, "for I recognize in
your countenance that the devil has won you over to his power, and in
you he speaks with the bold insolence of the sinful. Subdue, unhappy
child, your rash speech, that the Fathers may not hear of it, and crush
you in their wrath."

"I do not fear their thunderbolts, permit me to tell you. We are in
Prussia; the great king watches over all his subjects; neither the
Romish Church nor the Rosicrucians can obscure the light of knowledge.
He will not suffer a ghost, sneaking in the dark, to exercise power
here, and he will not refuse the protection to me which is accorded to
the least of his subjects. I do not fear you, and I will tell you the
truth entire, I believe you to be a hypocrite and a charlatan, who--"

"Miserable one!" interrupted Cagliostro, as he furiously rushed to her,
seizing her by the arm--"cease, unhappy one, or your life is forfeited
to the invisible avengers!"

Wilhelmine shook her head, and encountered his flaming eyes with a proud
glance. "I repeat your own words--cease, or your life will be forfeited!
Perhaps you think I do not know what happened to you in Mittau, where
you were recognized as a charlatan, who fooled the poor creatures into
the belief of his miraculous acts, which consisted in lightening their
purses to the benefit of his own. You were obliged to flee from Mitlau
in the night, to save yourself, your treasures, and wonderful man-traps,
and the beauti