from us. We will pray for mercy and beg for
a release!" and he sank upon his knees.

"What will that avail us here, where neither prayers nor devotion are
heeded? Only energy and determination will aid us at Sans-Souci. Come,
let us thump and bang until they set us free!" cried Bischofswerder,
peevishly.

Their hands were lame, and their voices hoarse with their exertions;
and no longer able to stand, they sank down upon the floor hungry and
exhausted, almost weeping with rage and despair.

At last, after long hours of misery, they heard a noise in the adjoining
room. The king had again entered his cabinet. The door opened, and the
lackey motioned to the two gentlemen to enter. They rose with difficulty
and staggered into the room, the door being closed behind them.

His majesty was seated in his arm-chair, with his three-cornered hat on,
leaning his chin upon his hands, crossed upon his staff. He fixed his
great blue eyes, with a searching glance, upon the two Rosicrucians;
then turned to his minister, Herzberg, who was seated at the table
covered with documents.

"These are, then, the two great props of the Rosicrucians?" asked
Frederick--"the two charlatans whom they have told me make hell hot
for the crown prince, continually lighting it up with their prayers and
litanies."

"Your majesty," answered Herzberg, smiling, "these gentlemen are Colonel
Bischofswerder and the councillor of the exchequer, Woellner, whom your
majesty has commanded to appear before you."

"You are the two gentlemen who work miracles, and have the effrontery
to summon the spirit of our ancestor, the great elector, and the Emperor
Marcus Aurelius?"

"Sire," stammered Bischofswerder, "we have tried to summon spirits."

"And I too," cried the king, "only they will not come; therefore I
wished to see the enchanters, and would like to purchase the secret."

"Pardon me, most gracious sire," said Woellner, humbly, "you must first
be received in the holy order of the Rosicrucians."

"Thanks," cried the king, "I am not ready for the like follies, and
whilst I live the Invisibles must take heed not to become too visible,
or they will be taken care of. I will not permit Prussia to retrograde.
It has cost too much trouble to enlighten the people, bring them to
reason, and banish hypocrisy. Say to the Rosicrucians that they shall
leave the crown prince in peace, or I will chase them to the devil, who
will receive them with open arms! It could