I would believe you (answered I) as soon, nay sooner than all these; but, dear sir, could you not so order the business with the rest of your society, that I might not be obliged to have carnal knowledge of these elementary ladies? Away, away (replied he) you have your own liberty, without doubt; for nobody loves, unless he has a mind to it. Few of the Sages have been able to defend themselves from their Charms, but it has been observed that some reserving themselves wholly and entirely for great things (as you will know in time), would never do this honour to the Nymphs. I will be then of this number (said I), but yet neither can I resolve to lose time about the ceremonies which I have heard a Prelate say, must be practised by those who mean to converse with their Geniuses. This Prelate knew not what he said (said the Count), for you shall see ere long, that there are no Geniuses there; and besides, that never any Sage employed either ceremonies or superstition for the familiarity of the Geniuses, no more than for the people of whom we speak. The Cabalists do nothing, but by the principles of nature: and if there are sometimes found in our books certain strange words, characters, or fumigations, 'tis but to conceal the philosophical principles from the ignorant. Admire the simplicity of Nature, in all her most marvellous operations! And in this simplicity, a Harmony and Agreement so great, so just, and so necessary that it will make you return back in despite of yourself from your weak imaginations. That which I am now about to tell you, we teach those of our disciples, which we will not let altogether enter into the Sanctuary of Nature; and to whom we will nevertheless, not utterly deprive of the Society of the elementary people, merely out of the compassion which we have for these poor wretches. The Salamanders (as you have already, perhaps, comprehended) are composed of the most subtile parts of the Sphere of Fire, conglobated and organized by the action of the universal fire (concerning which, I shall one day entertain you further) so called, because it is principal of all the motions of nature.