“I will follow them faithfully,” humbly answered Bischofswerder. “You will be rewarded by the knowledge of life and of money; you shall discover the philosopher’s stone, and the secret of gold shall be revealed to you, when you perform what the Invisible Fathers demand.” “I will do every thing,” cried Bischofswerder, fervently; “only make known to me their commands.” “They desire, at the present, that you seek to be the confidant of the Prince of Prussia. Gain his affection, then govern him, making yourself indispensable to him. Surround him with servants and confidants that you can rely upon. Inspire him with devotion to the holy order. Become, now, the friend of the prince, that you may, one day, rule the king. You are the chief of the order in Prussia; the more members you gain the more secrets will be revealed to you. The holy fathers send me afar, but I shall return: if you have been active and faithful, I will make known to you a great secret and bring you the elixir of life.” “When will you return, master?” asked Bisehofswerder, enthusiastically. Cagliostro smiled. “Before the crown prince of Prussia becomes king. Ask no further. Be faithful!” CHAPTER XII. THE JESUIT GENERAL No one remained in the drawing-room but Cagliostro and the beautiful woman who still lay quietly on the couch, upon the throne. Cagliostro approached her, and, raising the veil, regarded her a moment, with an expression of the most passionate tenderness: “We are alone, Lorenza,” said he. She opened her great eyes, and looked around the dimly-lighted room; then, fixing them upon Cagliostro, who stood before her in his brilliant costume of magician, she burst into a merry laugh, so loud and so irresistible, that Cagliostro was seized involuntarily, and joined her. “Oh! was it not heavenly, was it not a glorious comedy, and did I not play divinely, Joseph? Was I not bewitching as the goddess of Nature?” “You looked truly like a goddess, Lorenza, and there is nothing more beautiful than you, in heaven or upon earth. But come, my enchantress, it is time to break up, as we are to set off early to-morrow morning.” “Have we now much money? Was the tribute richly paid?” “Yes, we have a hundred louis d’ors and a diamond ring from the mistress of this house.” “Give it to me,” cried Lorenza. “Not the ring, Lorenza, but the diamond, so soon as I have a false stone set in the ring--which I must keep as a ring in the chain which will bind this woman to our cause.” “Was I not astonishingly like her? Was it not almost unmistakable?” “Yes, wonderfully deceptive. I shuddered myself as I saw the dagger pointed at your bosom.”