Then, you gentlemen of the Cabal, are Jansenists likewise (interrupted I?) We know not what that is, my child (proceeded he, somewhat angrily) and we scorn to inform ourselves wherein consists the different sects and divers religions, with which the ignorant puzzle their heads. We keep to the ancient religion of our fathers, the Philosophers; wherein 'tis very necessary that I instruct you. But come again to the purpose: these men whose sad immortality is nothing but an eternal misfortune; the unhappy children, whom the Sovereign Father has neglected, have also this recourse, that they may become mortal, by contracting alliance with these elementary people. So that you see, the Sages hazard nothing for Eternity. If they are predestinated, they have the pleasure to carry with them to heaven (in quitting the prison of this body) the Sylphide or Nymph, which they have immortalised! and if they be not predestinated, the commerce of the Nymph renders their soul mortal, and delivers them from the horrors of the second death. So the Devil saw all the Pagans escape, who allied themselves to the Nymphs: and so the Sages, or friends of the Sages, when God inspires us to communicate to any one, the four elementary secrets (which I have now been teaching you), free themselves from the Peril of being damned. Without lying, sir (cried I, not daring to put him again into an ill humour, and finding it requisite to defer the telling him plainly my opinion, till I should have discovered all the secrets of his Cabal, which I judged by this glimpse, must needs be very full of pleasure and divertisement): without lying, you advance wisdom to a great height! And you had reason to tell me, that this surpassed all our doctors; and I believe, that this likewise passes all our magistrates too; and that, if they could discover who those were that escaped the devil by this means (as ignorance is very unjust), they would engage in the devil's interest, against these fugitives and make a strong party for him. Yes, it is for that (pursued the Count) that I have so strictly commanded you; to keep religiously this secret. Your judges are strange persons. They condemn a most innocent action as a dismal crime. What a barbarity was it, to burn those two priests which the Prince of Miranda says he knew of, who had each of them his Sylphide, for the space of forty years! What an inhuman thing was it to put Joan Hervilles to death, for having laboured six and forty years, to immortalise a Gnome! And, what a piece of ignorance was that of Bodin, to represent her as a witch; and that from thence he might take advantage to authorise popular errors, touching pretended Sorcerers; in a book as impertinent as his Commonwealth is reasonable.