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immediately got up and went to the far end of the car. Wondering what could
be the meaning of her action, I kept my seat and looked out the car-window.
The men approached, carefully scrutinizing every one they passed, and
strange to say, while no such word was spoken, I could hear from within in
constant repetition the word  spy! Spy! Spy!
Reaching my seat a satisfied look came over the face of the leader and he
ordered,  Stand up!
 By whose orders? I asked with dignity.
 By orders of His Majesty, the King of Italy, he answered, loftily.
 And what for? I persisted.
 For a spy with secret documents, he answered, as his men commenced to
feel and search my clothes. Iole by some strange power had divined their
intentions, by clairvoyant sight had seen their thoughts, as it were. Would
they search her also? Would I escape but to see her suffer?  Strange, said the
leader, when they were unable to find what they expected:  where is the
woman?  There is his companion, said a passenger, pointing to Iole.
 Search her, commanded the leader. A feeling of fear stole over me, but
BROTHER OF THE THIRD DEGREE 141
recalling the rules to never fear I became calmly indifferent, and accompanied
them to where Iole was seated.
 You have been misinformed or made a mistake, I said, as we reached her.
 We will soon see, he answered grimly.
Iole was as calm as any one could be.  Oh, she said pleasantly,  you take us
for spies, do you? Well, you are wrong; search me if you please.
 We must have been misinformed, said the leader, but with a suspicious
look as the search was completed and nothing found. Our grips and seats
were ransacked but no discoveries made; even Iole s checked trunk was
searched, but nothing to awaken suspicion found; indeed, our baggage was of
such a nature that it would allay suspicion.  Well, we have been
misinformed, repeated the leader, as he and his men left the car at the frontier
and we continued on our journey.
 Where is the package, Iole? I asked, when they had gone and were safe in
France.
 It is safe, she answered briefly, and I questioned no further; but at her
solicitation we seated ourselves in the rear of he coach.
No other incidents happened. Arriving in Paris she arose, and in a manner
that would not attract attention, reached down into the coal in the fuel box and
drew forth the entrusted package. Putting it in the inner folds of her garments,
she said:
 We must ever be on the alert from now on, and never, not even under the
most trying circumstances, loss our self-possession. Now let me hear you
pledge that you will never by sign or action, reveal a secret through rear or
pain that may be brought to me.
 I pledge, I answered, as we got off at the station.
As though our arrival was known in advance a special carriage met us, and
we were driven immediately to the residence of Count Nicholsky.
I had not passed beneath the little Cupid and his chained tiger for some time,
and as we now saw him again, still standing on his golden egg, I recalled to
Iole our first meeting.
 Yes, she said,  that time our victorious Cupid was a sign of meeting; this
time, no doubt, he is a sign of parting. Are you ready and prepared to face any
emergency? she asked, in serious tones, as though she read a dark future.
 Never fear or have a single doubt of me; let come what may, I am ready, I
answered, as the carriage drew up in front of the great Corinthian portico. As
we got out a tall, cloaked figure, with long golden hair, passed through the
entrance.
BROTHER OF THE THIRD DEGREE 142
CHAPTER XVI
ST. GERMAIN. WAR.
WE entered the parlor and Iole immediately sent the brother who served as
usher to notify Count Nicholsky of our arrival. He soon returned with orders
for us to report at the council chamber at once. Being familiar with the place,
Iole led the way along the same rich hall described before, to a room upon the
second floor. A woman dressed in black, not unlike Iole when I first met her,
challenged us at th e door before which she stopped. Passwords were
exchanged and we entered. Around a table in the center of a room finished
throughout in azure-blur, sat seven persons whom I soon learned were seven
of the most remarkable persons of any age. At the right sat the king whom we
knew as Eral, and opposite him the mysterious Madame Petrovna, but with
features wonderfully different from those she possessed when I first saw her.
Her face was now remarkably white and beautiful, all the harsh lines and
wrinkles had disappeared, but her blue eyes still shone with that wonderful
light. Beside the king sat two men whom I afterwards learned were Count
Nicholsky and Eugene Du Bois. Beside the Madame sat the man whom we
had seen enter when we got out of the carriage; he was tall and sparely built,
with long golden hair and a light, curly, chestnut beard. This man, whom I
knew from his position at the table was the superior of all, had no certain age;
his pale, serious face was not marked by a single wrinkle, yet I knew he was
not young. His eyes were blue and shone with a fiery luster, and I noticed that
his hands throbbed as they rested upon the table. That this personage may be
no mystery, I will say that he was the celebrated Count de St. Germain who
was a high initiate, and possessed the power of separating his eternal body
from the form which dissolves. We took the two vacant seats opposite this
great adept, who then motioned for King Eral to speak.
 You have a package for me? said the king.
Without a word Iole drew forth the package and handed it across the table.
Unwrapping the silk cloth around it, a platinum case came to view, and as the
king pressed a concealed spring a lid flew open and a closely-folded paper fell
upon the table. The Madame now passed him a bowl which sat near her, and
BROTHER OF THE THIRD DEGREE 143
the king immersed the paper in a fluid therein. Taking it from the liquid he
spread it out upon the table, moving his hands back and forth over it without
touching, all the time breathing upon its surface. In a few seconds a
closely-written message commenced to appear upon the heretofore blank
paper, and the king read the following message, which gave us the first
intimation of the intelligence we carried:
 The German-Russian alliance is perfected and all has been signed and sealed.
The German forces under Von Kral march at once on Paris by way of Brussels,
and the Russians under Neouli strike Vienna. The royal powers of Italy are not
yet certain, but the people are with us, and Austria and the German democrats
join with France and England. Vivani, commander-in-chief of the Italian army,
notwithstanding the King, is with us and will join Maximilian, commander of
the Austrians, and check the Russians at Cracow. Let the French meet the
Germans near the historic fields of Waterloo and avenge the past. I leave for
Berlin this hour.
 SAROY.
Not a sigh of surprise or emotion was discernible on the faces of those
around the table as this startling news was read, but all looked intensely
serious as Count St. Germain spoke and said:
 Has Careau answered our order to put Napoleon Marleon at the head of
the French army?
 He has. Napoleon takes command to-day and both await our further
orders, answered Nicholsky.
 Then tell him to proceed with not less than two hundred thousand men to
Waterloo at once. It is again the Latin against the Slav, but this time our cause [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]