to desire it,"
returned the barber, still pursuing his tonsorial duties. "You must know
that there are many wild legends and stories abroad concerning these
invisible beings denominated Rosicrucians. But the one which gains most
general credence is that the brotherhood was founded by a certain
Christianus Rosencrux, a German philosopher, who fancied that the arts
and sciences might be developed in such a manner as to confer the
greatest possible blessings on the human race."

"Then the aims of Rosencrux are entirely good and philanthropic?" said
Wagner, interrogatively.

"As a matter of course, signor," said the barber; "and therefore, if
such a man ever did live, he must have been an insane visionary--for who
would believe that knowledge could possibly make us richer, happier, or
better? All the philosophy in the universe could never convert this shop
into a palace."

"But you are wandering from your subject, my good friend," gently
remonstrated Fernand.

"I crave your pardon, signor. Let me see. Oh, I recollect; we were
talking of Christianus Rosencrux. Well, signor, the fabled philosopher
was a monk, and a very wise as well as a very good man. I am only
telling you the most generally received legend, mind, and would not have
you think that I believe it myself. So this Rosencrux, finding that his
cloistral existence was inconvenient for the prosecution of his studies,
traveled into the East, and spent many years in acquiring the knowledge
handed down to the wise men of those climes by the ancient Magi and
Chaldeans. He visited Egypt, and learnt many wonderful secrets by
studying the hieroglyphics on the Egyptian pyramids. I forget how long
he remained in the East; but it is said that he visited every place of
interest in the Holy Land, and received heavenly inspirations on the
spot where our Saviour was crucified. On his return to Europe, he saw
full well that if he revealed all his knowledge at once, he would be put
to death by the inquisition as a wizard, and the world would lose the
benefit of all the learning he had acquired. So says the legend; and it
goes on to recite that Christianus Rosencrux then founded the order of
the Rosy Cross, which was nothing more or less than a brotherhood of
wise men whom he initiated in all his secrets, with the intention that
they should reveal from time to time small portions thereof, and thus
give to the world by very slow degrees that immense amount of knowledge
which he s