"Then you really consider it possible, my friend? You are yet of the opinion that the grand-kophta will appear in answer to your invocations?" "Yes, sire, I am of that opinion!" "That is to say, his spirit will come amongst us in some intangible shape. You cannot be in earnest when you assert that he will answer your call in the body, as I have already told you that the grand-kophta is in London. Our ambassador not only saw him there, but spoke with him the very day he dispatched the courier, who arrived here yesterday." "Your majesty, the secret sciences teach me that the spirit controls the body; and we will now test the truth of this lesson. If the grand-kophta does not appear in flesh and blood, and give to your majesty, with his own hand, the elixir of life for which your soul thirsts, science lies, and the sublime spirits consider me unworthy of their confidence! In that event, I will renounce my right to enter the inner temple; it will be evident that I am not one of the enlightened. I will bow submissively to the anger and contempt of the Invisible, and return voluntarily to the outer temple to begin my apprenticeship anew." The king shook his head thoughtfully. "Your faith is heroic; and I only hope you are not doomed to be disappointed. And now, let us begin our work!" "His majesty's will be done," replied the two Rosicrucians, respectfully. "Will your majesty permit us to go to the laboratory in order to make our preparations?" "I will accompany you, and render assistance as an inferior brother. You know that no one besides us three is permitted to enter this laboratory; and I therefore keep the key in a secret drawer of my writing-desk, which I alone can open!" "Permit us to withdraw, in order that we may not see from what place your majesty takes the key." The two Rosicrucians walked toward the door, and turned their faces so that they could not see what was done behind them. "I have the key," said the king, after a short interval. "Come, my brothers. I am now ready!" He walked rapidly to the door, unlocked it, and entered the laboratory, followed by Bischofswerder and Wöllner. But hardly had the king stepped into the room before he uttered a cry of terror, and staggered back, pale with fright. "The Invisibles! the Invisibles!" he murmured. "See! See! They knew we were coming, and have made all the preparations!" "All hail, the Invisible Fathers," cried Wöllner, with enthusiasm. "They have prepared the altar." "The Invisibles are awaiting us; they approve of our purpose," shouted Bischofswerder, exultingly. "Oh, behold, my king! Oh, see, my brother!" He drew the king eagerly to the large furnace which occupied one entire side of the laboratory; and it really looked as if invisible hands had been at work in this chamber. A bright fire was burning in the furnace, jets of flame darted forth through the openings, and licked the pans and retorts in which liquids and mixtures of various colors boiled and simmered.