Cagliostro, apparently, was lest in deep thought and indifferent to the conversation without, directing quietly and calmly, in the mean time, a few questions to Wollner, and, as it seemed, listening only to his answers. Yet as Bischofswerder approached him, saying, “it is, indeed, important news; I have proof in hand that--” he interrupted him with a commanding motion, and finished the broken sentence: “--that Wilhelmine Enke is a powerful adversary, having connection with the court, as this letter from her is directed to Minister Herzberg. Is it not this that you would say, Theophilus?” Astonished, he replied in the affirmative, begging his master to read it. “It is unnecessary,” replied Cagliostro, waving back the letter; “to the seeing eyes every thing is revealed. This person announces to Minister von Herzberg that the deceiver and necromancer, Cagliostro, in his flight from Mittau, has visited her to menace her. She begs protection for herself and an arrest for me; that I am known as Count Julien, at the hotel King of Portugal, at Berlin, and that haste is necessary.” Both gentlemen glanced astonished and enraptured, first at the sealed epistle and then at the great Magus. “Open the letter and convince yourselves of the contents!” commanded Cagliostro. “It is unnecessary,” cried Bischofswerder, with enthusiasm. “We recognize in you truth and knowledge; you have revealed to us the contents.” “Nay, there is a lingering doubt in the mind of brother Chrysophorus!” said Cagliostro, regarding Woellner fixedly, who stood with downcast eyes before him. “My ruler and master,” stammered Woellner, in confusion, “I dare not doubt, only--” “You would only be convinced, open then the letter,” interrupted Cagliostro, sarcastically. With a sharp knife, Bischofswerder cut the end of the envelope, and handed the letter to him. “Give it to Chrysophorus,” commanded the count. “He shall read it, and may the incredulous become a believer!” Woellner perused the epistle with a slightly tremulous voice, stopping now and then, at an illegible word, which his master quickly supplied to him, finishing the sentence as correctly as if he held the writing in his hand. The contents were exactly as Cagliostro had given them, and the farther Wollner read, the more his voice quivered and Bischofswerder’s enthusiasm increased. As the reading was finished, the former sank, with uplifted hands, before his master, as if imploring mercy from a mighty, crushing power.