rprise to his Eminence. The suddenness of the evocation
seemed to me all the more amazing because Monsieur de Cagliostro had
been unable to divine the name of the person with whom I wished to
communicate. I was confounded. The magical spectacle of a supper, where
one of the illustrious women of past times presented herself, took from
me my presence of mind. I listened without daring to question. When
I roused myself about midnight from the spell of that magic, I was
inclined to doubt my senses. But even this great marvel seemed natural
in comparison with the singular hallucination to which I was presently
subjected. I don't know in what words I can describe to you the state
of my senses. But I declare, in the sincerity of my heart, I no longer
wonder that souls have been found weak enough, or strong enough, to
believe in the mysteries of magic and in the power of demons. For
myself, until I am better informed, I regard as possible the apparitions
which Cardan and other thaumaturgists describe."

These words, said with indescribable eloquence of tone, were of a nature
to rouse the curiosity of all present. We looked at the speaker and kept
silence; our eyes alone betrayed our interest, their pupils reflecting
the light of the wax-candles in the sconces. By dint of observing
this unknown little man, I fancied I could see the pores of his skin,
especially those of his forehead, emitting an inward sentiment with
which he was saturated. This man, apparently so cold and formal, seemed
to contain within him a burning altar, the flames of which beat down
upon us.

"I do not know," he continued, "if the Figure evoked followed me
invisibly, but no sooner had my head touched the pillow in my own
chamber than I saw once more that grand Shade of Catherine rise before
me. I felt myself, instinctively, in a luminous sphere, and my eyes,
fastened upon the queen with intolerable fixity, saw naught but her.
Suddenly, she bent toward me."

At these words the ladies present made a unanimous movement of
curiosity.

"But," continued the lawyer, "I am not sure that I ought to relate what
happened, for though I am inclined to believe it was all a dream, it
concerns grave matters.

"Of religion?" asked Beaumarchais.

"If there is any impropriety," remarked Calonne, "these ladies will
excuse it."

"It relates to the government," replied the lawyer.

"Go on, then," said the minister; "Voltaire, Diderot, and their fellows
have already b