“‘What word?’ asked I, surprised that a man should so readily read my thought--for it is impossible that he could have heard my exclamation. “‘That you will voluntarily join the most august fraternity that ever earth contained! Think of it! We shall meet again.’ “‘When? where?’ I asked hurriedly, for the august company were observing us, especially the Emperor, who, beneath his heavy brows, was evidently paying quite as much attention to us as to the wonderful things then occurring across the room. “He did not reply directly, but, by a continuation of his breach of etiquette resumed, saying: ‘By the exercise of the power I possess, and will impart to you, conditionally; you shall be capable of depriving any man of speech, and make man, woman or child perfectly subservient to your _silent_ command, as the people yonder are to mine. There is Jean Boyard, in this Paris, who merely looks at any small object, and makes it dance toward him. You shall exceed him fifty-fold! On the Boulevart du Temple M. Hector produces a full-blown rose from a green bud, in seven minutes; you shall be able to do it in one. “‘In the Rue de Bruxelles lives a girl--Julie Vimart--who exceeds Alexis and all the other sleepers, for she beats you at chess, tells you all you know, and much that you have forgotten; you shall do all that and more. In the street _Grand Père_, lives a boy who brings messages from the living, in their sleep; meets and converses with your friends--when _they_ slumber, and describes them as perfectly as the sun paint their portraits in the cameras of Talbot and Dagguerre; you shall have that power. “‘In the Rue du Jour, is a _Sage Femme_, who cures all diseases that are curable, by a simple touch and prayer: you shall have that power greater than she can ever hope to. It is only necessary to say ‘I will have these powers!’ and they shall be yours. They all are well worth having. I learned my secret among the magi of the East--men not half so civilized as are we of the West; but who, nevertheless, _know_ a great deal more than the sapient men of Christendom--that is, less of machinery, politics, and finance; but a great deal more of the human soul, its nature, its powers, and the methods of their developement. Instead of being surprised at modern scientific revelations, we of the True Temple----’ ‘_What_ Temple?’ I interrupted him to ask. ‘Of the _Supreme Dome_ of the Rosie Cross,’ said he. “The Emperor must have heard this question and its answer, for he directly crossed over to us, and actually joined this curious _tête-à-tête_. The Count bowed; did not seem at all embarrassed by the presence of the son of Admiral Verhuiel, the great Dutch founder of the Second Empire--or Emperor ----.