ve what the meaning of the opening of the
Chest may be, and of Mr Bourne his saying _You say true, etc., I'll be
with you by and by_. As for the former, it is noted by Paracelsus
especially, and by others, that there are signs often given of the
Departure of sick Men lying on their death beds, of which this opening
of the Iron Coffer or Chest, and closing again, is more than ordinary
significant, especially if we recall to mind that of Virgil:

"Olli dura quies oculos & _ferreus_ urget
Somnus----"

Though this quaintness is more than is requisite in these Prodigies
presaging the sick Man's Death. As for the latter, it seems to be
nothing else but the saying _Amen_ to the Presage, uttered in his
accustomary form of Speech, as if he should say, you of the invisible
Kingdom of Spirits, have given the Token of my sudden Departure, and you
say true, I shall be with you by and by. Which he was enabled so
assuredly to assent to, upon the advantage of the relaxation of his Soul
now departing from the Body: Which Diodorus Siculus, lib. 18, notes to
be the Opinion of Pythagoras and his followers, that it is the privilege
of the Soul near her Departure, to exercise a fatidical Faculty, and to
pronounce truly touching things future.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 12: _Sadducismus Triumphatus._]

XXXIII

THE STRANGE CASE OF M. BEZUEL

From CHRISTMAS' "Phantom World"

"In 1695," said M. Bezuel, "being a schoolboy of about fifteen years of
age, I became acquainted with the two children of M. Abaquene, attorney,
schoolboys like myself. The eldest was of my own age, the second was
eighteen months younger; he was named Desfontaines; we took all our
walks and all our parties of pleasure together, and whether it was that
Desfontaines had more affection for me, or that he was more gay,
obliging, and clever than his brother, I loved him the best.

"In 1696, we were walking both of us in the cloister of the Capuchins.
He told me that he had lately read a story of two friends who had
promised each other that the first of them who died should come and
bring news of his condition to the one still living; that the one who
died came back to earth, and told his friend surprising things. Upon
that, Desfontaines told me that he had a favour to ask me; that he
begged me to grant it instantly; it was to make him a similar promise,
and on his part he would do the same. I told him that I would not. For
several months he talked to me o