his
objectionable dependence upon the spiritual principle of another--this
existence, in fact, conditioned solely by another's spiritual
principle--filled me with horror and awe. Nay, I could not but feel the
deepest and most heartrending pity for the poor thing, even after I was
obliged to see and admit that the mesmerism was doing the patient a
most wonderful amount of good, so that she bloomed forth into the
finest and most robust health, and thanked her mesmerizer, the
director--and even me--for all the benefit she had derived, saying all
this in a broader and more unintelligible jargon than ever. The
director seemed to observe my feeling, and to share it. We never came
to any explanation about it; probably for the best of reasons. Never
since then have I been able to persuade myself to witness any more
mesmeric cures. I had no wish to see any experiments besides the one in
question, which was so perfect in all its conditions as to remove all
doubts of the wondrous power of mesmerism. At the same time, it had
brought me to the brink of an abyss into which it was impossible to
peer without profound alarm.

"From all which it results that I am entirely of Lothair's opinion."

"And," said Ottmar, "as I add that I am entirely of yours, it is clear
that we are all of one mind on this mysterious subject. No doubt any
clever doctor who is an advocate for mesmerism would refute all
our arguments in a moment, and soundly rebuke us for setting our
crude laymen's opinions up in opposition to convictions resulting
from careful experiments and extensive experience. Do not let us
forget, neither, that we ought not to be altogether unfavourably
disposed towards mesmerism, since, in our Serapiontic essays it may
frequently find its application as a most efficient lever for bringing
little-understood spiritual powers into play. Even you, Lothair, have
made use of this lever not seldom. In your very 'Nutcracker,' that most
edifying story, Marie is sometimes a little 'sonnambule.' But, ah! how
far we have wandered away from the subject of Vincent!"

"The transition was easy enough," said Lothair. "The path was traced
all ready. If Vincent joins our Brotherhood, there is sure to be much
dabbling in mysteries, for his head is full of them. However, Cyprian
here has not been attending to what we have been saying for several
minutes past; he has been turning over the leaves of a manuscript which
he took from his pocket. He ought now to