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VICTIM 

O F 

MAGICAL DELUSION; 

OR 

THE MYSTERY 

REVOLUTION OF P L. 

A MAGtCO-POLmCAL TALE. 

FOUNDED ON KISTOKICAI. FACTS, AMD 
TKAHSLaTED from THS CfiRMAN 07 

CAJETAN TSCHINK. 



Br p. WILL. 



DUBLIN: 

Printed by Brett S mith. 

For Mcffrs. P. Wogin, P. Btrne, W. Jqnes, 
and G. Folingsbt. , 

Ciooglc 



1795- 




D51z=.JnGOOglC 



VICTIM 



MAGICAL DELUSIOK 



X\ S Ibon at tleCountefiwasgone to b«di 
I introduced the genetous ftranger to. my fellow 
Servants. He foon -convinced us that he wat 
no ftianger in the 'caftle ; for he knew everf 
apartment, and every comer. *■ I was ac- 
quainted with the Prince of Ge * V* he fud, 
*'the former pofTeflbt' of the cafile. He was 
extremely fond of jihylic, and chenudry, and 
his great (kill in thcfc fciences procured him 
publicly, the name of a man of great learning, 
and privately that of a fncerer. flis rank 
j>rote^ed him againU the fate which would hare 
been the portion of «very body elfe, if fufpcft- 
ed of forccry. He built the caitle in this foreft, 
in order to indulge here without being interrupt- 
ed 'by . intruding viGtors, his inclination for 
^yfical and chemical operations, by means of 
which 'he frightened many uninvited guefts out 
■4}f the cafllc. The moft extraordinary tricks 
he played in the U&. room, on the firji Soar, 
■irhtcb IS connected by means of a machine, with a 
A 2 fecret 



4 THE VICTIM OF 

fccret apartment on a gToun<{ floor. The lattrt 
having neither a door nor windows, has ve- 
ry likely not yet been difco»ered by any of the 
inhabitants of the caftle. This was really the 
cafe. The Unknown demanded a candle, and 
retjueftcd us to follow him. We led us to a 
wall which we never had noticed. There he 
took a ilone out of the floor, put his arm in 
the opening, and puflied a part of the wooden 
wall back. We followed him through the aper- 
ture to a fmall room, where we inftanily ob- 
fetvcd the madiine of which he bad been fpeak- 
ing. It confifted of a llrong fpring, which 
was connected with a large wooden cone, fitted 
in the cieling, and fallened by a bolt. As foon 
as the bolt was pulhed back, and fomebody plae^- 
(d tnrafdf en the cone in the i^er apxTtment, 
the fpring was prefled down and the perfbn 
funk into the lower apBrtment, between four 
pe(l«, w tlK joints of which the cone was Aiding 
down. HcJwever as foon as one jumped from 
the cone, the fpring made it fnap back by its 
elaflic fetce ioto its former place. In order to 
con>ii)c< Us of it, the Unimrum nouRted up 
to the cieling upon a ladder which was in the 
Toofn, and fufpended tome lieavy weights to 
books which were faftencd to the under part of 
the cone which oiflde it Aide down aa foon as 
he removed the bolt^ atid was forced up agaia 
in its former place, by the elailic force of the 
fprinK) Bs foon ns lie bad taken awa; th« 
weighis. This machine could not be perceived 
in the upper apartment, theflocrof which con- 
fined oi cubical f<}uarei, lefcmbling in form, 
colour and pofition, the moveable cone to which 
they feemcd le be clofely joined. 

•< BcCdes this machine, he (hewed ns * 

crooked tube, which was fixed to the ceiling, 

and 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 5 

kD^ readied down tiUo the middle of the 
room. This tube, f^id th« Unknown, is in wm- 
munication with the wall of tk« upper apart- 
ment, where it ends is the opeiv jaw of one of 
t4ie four lions which »re ftanding in the coraer 
of • that room. By loeani of that tube, one 
cati not ouly hear rery diflinflly in tliis room 
what is fpoken in the upper apanment, but one 
alfo hears in the upper room equally diltir^flly 
what one fpeaks here, without I'ufpe^ing from- 
whence the voice proceeds- You know, my Lord, 
from your own experience how well the U^inewa 
knew bow to render thefe machines ferriceablc 
to his plan. 

" Before the Uninoivn left the calUs, he allc- 
ed me in what apartment the Countefs wu- 
ufcd to receive (Irangers? "In the loom," I 
replied, '•contiguous to that in the floor of 
which th« moveable cone \% fixed."-!— >-He left 
us withvifibl^ marks of fatisfafliooy 

'< TIic ne:(t da^he came again t* the calVIe, 
and meeting me at the gate, exclaimed in ac- 
cents of jay, ■'To-morrow already we muH 
begin to work miracles. 1 have invented a plan 
which t^annot mifcarry. The young nobleman 
will come to the cafilc to-night. P4acc (one 
lights in the windows of the vpper and lower 
apartments that he cap find his way to the 
iraille, and order the gate to be opened without 
delay* as fbon as you hear him ring the hell. 
The Countefs, who will bo gone to bed by that 
time, cannot fee him before to-pnorrow morn^ 
ug. When you {h^U have introdvc^ him (9 
her, then you muQ. fetum to her apartment, 
after a fliort interval, and deliver this box and 
the note which I am going to give you, in the 
hands of the Countefs. If you are afted who 
lus brought it* defcribe me as ^ou havefeen-- 



6 THE vrCTIM OF 

me the iitfl time I came to the ca(l1e gate. 
The young nobleman will be delirous to fee 
and to fpeak to me, but you muft tell him that 
I had Itft the calUc after the box and the note 
had bccndcltvcred. He will order you to pun- 
fue me without delay ; howerer, P will fare- you- 
that trouble, for I (hall ftay at the cadlc* and 
furrcndcr to you as foon as you^ lli*ll want 
me. Keep fome cords ready, which- mu(V be 
cut afundcT and fiightty fewn- again together. 
With ihcfecordi joumult tie mci and charge 
feme of the fervants to conduct me to the 
GoMQteCi, pretending- that I had rcfiifcd otr- 
llinatcly to return. Then I (halt tear the cords 
afunder,.-fiy into the adjoining room, and bolt the 
door after me. Meanwhile you mutl espefl me 
in the lower apartment and unfallen the bolt, 
beneath the cone, that I may fink down a» 
foon u I fliallget' upon the latter. When the 
cone fiiall have fnapt back in its former place^ 

tou mult' be ready to fallen it by means of the 
olt. When the Countcff and herguel^ im- 
patient to feize n^c, fliall force open the door 
at)d find the room empty,, they will fency me 
to be a fupcmatural being, not being acqu<dnt<> 
ed with the fecret of the machine." 

<' You know, my Ijord, how punAually and. 
fuccefsfully this delign has been put in execu- 
tion. A<i accident was the caufc of a fccond: 
more important plan, the execution of which: 
has rot been Jcfs fuccefsfnk The Unintwt, 
who after his difappearancc was Uttening at- 
tentively, in the fecret chamber,, heard among 
other difcourfeaj by me^ns of the tubci the 
prayer w^ch the Countefs addrefled to him 
on account of the apparition of her deceafed 
Lord.. He refleAed a few minutes on the poii- 
fibilitj of grandng it, and' promifed to fatisfy 
hct 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 7 

herwifliea. llie tube was the chMnel through 
which the Umhnovfn conrcyed hi» anfirer xo 
the Counters." 

Seized with aftonithment at Paleflci's narra- 
rion, and impatient tct hear its continuatioai I 
had not interrupted him once > but now I could 
not refrain any longev from fpcaking. " Then 
Amelia-is really innocent ?" V exclaimed, ** and 
was not privy to the artifices of the Uttknoion ?" 

"Not in the leaft ! " ' Palelki replied, "as I 
wi(h to be faved I the Countefs is innocent t 
Oie has been deceived as well as your Lordfbip, 
and probably her faith in the fupemaiural power 
of the ITniaeto/i, is ftift' as Htm as it was then." 

This declaration Icflened my anger at having 
been deceived in To villainous a manner, and I 
begged Paleiki to continue his accounu 

•* Does your Lordfliip recollefVall the paid-' 
culars of the apparition Iccne P*^ 

"Yes! I do." 

" Well,. then 4 wiU explain it to you.- On 
the day previous to the migical farce, the [/»- 
knaton tald mj) that he had gained over to our 
party tiie brother' in-law of the Councefs, who 
had arrived -lately, in~ order to furprife Amelia 
unexpefledly, and proniifcd to aft the part of the 
ghoft" 

'* Impoflible !" I exclaimed, « you mutt be 
millaken. At Icaft you an not fpeakiug of Count 
Clairval l" 

" Yes, the very fame perlbn, who at prefent ia 
your travelling companion." 

A chilly tremor thntled through my whole ' 
Frame } my mind mealwed with a look of h:>rrar 
the time palt and pfefent. t beheld myfelf in 
the power of two men, -one of whom had inv- 
p^ed upon my heart by means pi the malk of 
fincerc iricndfiup, and the other upon my un- 
A 4 dcriUiiding, 



8 THE VICTIM OP 

dcrftandtng, fajr Aifphjiag a (hew of pretended 
f^pnnaiuv^ powers, and both of whom were 
Itagued to work upon mj credolk^, and to make 
me run into the greatcft dangers. 

** Ahs ! Pakfti,'* I excbimed, aftet a long 
paufe, "how dreadftilljr have you epenedi my 
■eyes 1" 

"■Compofe- yoHrfelfy my Lordi I am fenfible 
tharmy time is very ppceioHS, and T have to «• 
real tfr you a great- deal more. The 'Count a£ted 
the part of the ghoft, which lie could do with 
'l~anf;uine h»pes of fuccefs; lea he refembles his 
tletrcafed brother in a Itrikinfr manner. He co- 
vered hia body with a doe fliin, which, as.well 
as his face, wa» painted of a corpfe-fike colour. 
A li>unge fiBed with a red mixture was toncealcij 
betwixt hia body and the doe Ikin, wlitch had 
iive ineifuresi As fbon as the clock ftiuck 
twelve, and' the ligltts were extinguilhed, the 
moveable cone was drawn down' into the lowec 
apattmetit> the Count got through the aperture 
hy means of a ladder, and the cone fnappcff a^in 
iti-itK former place as fben as the ladttcr was re- 
moved. The- fhroud in which the Count was 
wrapped- liad been ruhbed with a (ptiit that dV- 
fu#ed a coif fe-like fmcll tlitough the apartment. 
Whenever the- Count gave a fignal, a flalh of 
lightning illuminated the apartment, and you 
Aiw the pretemlcd gholf, who' addrvfleid the 
Cotmtt>fa[. itr a folemn^ J^rioni maifiier. The 
zed colour penetrated through the incifurcs of 
:thedfle.AHn ns ^ten as the- Count prefTed the 
ipunge. — Having finilhcd Ms pan, he ftepped 
back upon the maveaUe coiie, and funk down 
- into the lowcf apartment."' 

••Unheard©* fraud!" I'exclairaed, **fofim- 

■plc, and' jet- to impenetraHc— But, Pakfti, 

can. 

ctv.-.ii,Googlc 



-MAGICAL riErirsioN. 9- 

can you explain how the lightning and (hunderi 
which w^s fo extremely tiatura), was efr^fled ?" 

'* Both Were produced by two men in the 
apanmem orer your head. One (hook a Wgc ' 
round copper plate which the Unknown had 
f6und in the fecret chamber, and caufed the ' 
thundering noife by its vibration*. 'I'hc other 
wai (landing at the window, and produced the 
lightning by directing the light of a magic lan- 
Ihorn in fuch a manner, £hat it was received by 
a large mirror which was fufpended oppofite to 
the window of the apartment where the ghoft' 
appeared, in fuch a manner that it rcfle^ed the 
light into the room* -and illuminated-^the ghoft, 
v3io flood in a llraight line with the window. - 
The trembling motion in which tlie mirror waa 

Sut, gave the illumination the appearance of 
a(hes of lightniAg, which difappeared as oftea ' 
as the (hutier of the lanthorn was let down." 

" But how did it happen that I did not.ob*' 
ferve the mirror when I looked out of the win-* 
daw?" 

" It was fattened to the branches of-an oppo-' 
Cte tree, while you were at fupper} however' 
the darkncfs of the night, the. diHance of the 
tree, and the black cloth with which it had been ' 
covered till twelve o'clock, had rendered it invi- 
Gble. Tour fervant, from whom we carefully 
concealed our proceedings, ■ had been removed 
to a diftant apartment, where he was amufed 
by a ^ame at cards till midnight had ^t in." 

"But why did the tJnkmiun not endeavour' 
to gain him over to his party ?" 

" We had really been charged by him to at- 
tempt it, however he difplaycd fo much fidelity 
and unfhaken aitachmenc to you, that we found 
it pTudent to drop Uie attempt." 

As The 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



lo THE VICTIM OF 

The confirmztibn of the good! i^intbn whicH 
I always had cntcrtamed of Pletro's fidelity^ 
gswc me fo much the more picafure, becaufe I 
faw myfelf (b dreadfully miftaken in- my. opinion, 
of the Count and the Unbtnun. 

•* I do not know.'Talelki continued, "whe- 
ther the fuccefs of the whole defign is to be- 
afcribcd. to the Count or the Uhknvtun, the- 
formcr of whom bad' taken upon himfelf the 
execution, and the latter the regulation and' 
dirc^Hon of the plot. All of us were enrap- 
tured at the fuccefsful execution of that undcrr-. 
taking ;. however conllcmation fbon ftepped in 
the room of joy, when we perccircd'. the fatat 
eSeft whi(;h that juggling farce produced on the 
health of the Counteis, and we Ihould certainly- 
hare betrayed the whole cheat, if- the immenfe 
prefcnts which the Unknown diftnhuted, and^ 
his folemn declaration that he would redore. 
the health of the. Counteft, had not Tilenced: 

UB." 

« Was thei11nef»of Amelia really To dange- 
rous as I have been told by my fcrvant ?" 

" The accounts we gave him were very much, 
exaggerated by the dire£llan of the Uhknoitm 
who pcrfuadcd ua, Hiat if you.had a fincere love 
for our lady,: it would increafc with, the danger.- 
of loGng her. When we afked him, on your, 
departure, ffar what rcaAin he did' not oppofe it, 
if he really dcHgned to promote your and her 
ladyfhtp'B happinefs : he replied, " Tour notions, 
of love are very erroneous, if you cannot fee 
my drift. The fp^rk which glimmers in their 
bofoms, mull be blown up into a blazing flame, 
by obdaclcs and difficulties ;. a forcible fepara* 
lion of two loving hearts, unites them more 
firmly."— Even the fi^itious account which t 
gave you of the death of the Countefs was writ- 
un, 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



MAGICAL DELUSION. it 

tea by the deGre of the Unimivn ; for be pre» 
tended to try the ftreiigth of your tove, by ob^ 
ftrving-the eficA which it would produce upon 
ytiur heart. The intelHgencc which I gave you' 
of the pretended miraculous reftoration pf the 
Gountefs was forged, with the defign to obli-- 
terate the impreflion of the former, and to give 
you at (he fame time a high notion of the power 
of- the Unknevjn," 

"But, certainly, you did not-wtitcdiat letter 
byhis diseCHbn ?" > 

"Yea, myLord,iiaW." 

••-And ytfur. recantation in 'the wood-'near- 
***n ?i_ 

"Was i new cheat.''* ' 
I ^zed at him with aAonifhment; 

" You will rccoUcfl, my Lord^ that I told'" 
you the. I7/Khw«in had given up all hope of fc'- 
ducmg your fervant } and yet he ftood in need' 
of a man who enjoyed your confidence, in order 
t9 be infiarmed by him ' of all your a^H&nsi— 
wiOies, and fenttmenta, and to govern yoiv^C his 
pleafurc, by- his alEItance, without* your' per- 
ceiving it. The Count offi^ed -to- atKmpt to gen 
acquainted with you. In order to deceive the 
keen lightednefs of you>^'tut«r, whi> wu a prin- 
cipal obltacle to the execution of his deGgiu* 
he pretended to join with him in his hatred 
agftinft the Unknown; whom hC' declared to be 
an impoltor, and thus made your sovcmor be- 
lieve that he was an unprejudiced honell nun* 
For that very reafon he perfifted in Ms declara- 
tion, accepted ' youi challenge, and produced 
the tetter by which Amelia- had informed him 
of the particulars of her recovery, and proved 
my letter lo be a forgery. Ifaevcn accufed the 
Uatnowrt of afling in concert with me, with 
the view to remove the moll diftant fufplcion 



1% THE VICTIM OF 

qE beiflg eoBiwaetf with Mth«r ef n. Tbr 
CfluntwotMceBhunl^not ka«e. Inziv4ed to puA< 
nMttv»-'<Q f^r ifihehad not £o«efnn thu alicenA 
like that which la^td in< ^ wood near ***» 
W0«I4 rcwieve. ewryi fhinp, and' clear ths E/>/- 
iiKvin of the fufpwioft af hamag: a^d in- con- 
ceit with me. The event hafr piavect thM he 
had Det-bQca^ miftiltcn, jmd now he thought it 
I'eafonable to change the fcene. Till than tlie 
Gotuit had appearad ta couiit;vai£l him, th»UKh 
he had rendered him the mott important ier- 
vices; but now, thinking; no haw g»ncd a Htm 
feolin^ in piuf confidence^ be bcg^n to declare - 
openly for rhe Unknown, He could cafiJjf (ok^ 
fee what a feducing efi«ft tiria fteming change hi. 
opinion woubl have upon yoti. Eor it was na- 
tural yotL fliQulti conceive the idea, that the wn- 
favouFablo prejudice which the Csuut had rear- 
ni{citedagainn.theU*iri«wn, had been cenquer- 
od .hf the reality and greatncfa o£ hit. miradfts.'i. 
ivnd' fuppofing' iftjs, you coiildi nei. but ttnnit tov 
haJTc an additional mttivc fon yielding witltout 
reljtrve to the rublime. notran of the power of the 
£/«f«enia, which . yon all then frequently had 
(SitrttaiBOl reluflamty- Howe«r the Count. 
ti«uld not: dimge hir tone befortt the Unitmvtt 
appeared juAi Get l>, as wdl in hisL asitt yourofHr 
hiatij it-he wot^cfnoi ffiipofe himfelf to the dan« 
ger of exeiiing: your fuJ^iciony aiid for ihatDSa- 
jon tdic £ircc in the woedi neia •*•"?« w»*, 
aifhid.'? . 
- " 1 ocmpTolicnd you !" faid;, I r. grinding my, 
icah. with anger. ** fiutwbat of the'fa:rce f 
* »» It was' partly o£ my, andi' partly of. the 
Cotint's> invention. I-lmtl kept myfolf cone e alette 
i« the;. wood oS ♦•""ii, foroe days pravione to 
that iiSKK, and carefitllf confuUed with the 
Covmt, what l (hauld do aid fay ia-yowr prc- 



MAGICAL DELUSION. i} 

fence. We fixed on purpofe oa an evenw^ on 
which, wtt had juft reafba to expert a thunder* 
Aorta, in order to give the whUe fcenc more 
falemnuy. We chou an unfTe(|acfii«d, foUtary 
{pot of Lhe wood, for the liceiie of aflion, where 
I difguifed myrclf in the ruiiu ofan ddhuufe; 
and awaited jou> anlwd without being obferred. 
J pauited my face with a tight yellow, and mf 
feet with a red colour^ and Tulhed from tny am- 
bufhwith.loud fcreams, as toon as IlaWfouata' 
diflaace." 

•■ You dropped feofelcbto the ground, and 
behaved.)ike a maniac ; what view had jiou by 
doing fb?" 

" I only wanted to {tra^htra the iiBprefljan 
of my talc." 

•( Vou j^tendcd to (at the Untnawn ; was 
£c TcalljF not far off, or did jiou only deceive, 
jne?" 

«It was mere dece^ion, for lie was then 
many nules diftant from •""•n." 

*• BttI what you told, me of tha hermit w2s 
true ? or was it alfo » preeoneened tale ?" 

He wa» ^vented from returning an aofwoc 
by a (ttdden fainting fir, which probably was 
the confofyoeacc of hift having talk«d too much. 
L nnf^ ^c beU for the nurfu, and retired with 
die iiicenii^n oi baaring th« next mornti^ the 
centinuatjon o£ Palet1ti'& confelKon. A name- 
lefs fcnfatiion thrilled my whole frame when I-. 
\Ment home. I wiihed and dreaded to find the 
Comitat our hotel, being enraptured at the idea 
of treating i4ie unmafkcd impoftor with that 
humiliadDg contempt which he fo well deferred i 
but fhuddering at the thirft for rcYcngc which I 
felt in Rtybofom, and that animated hi« intake 
a falisfaflton, agwnft which, jny good genius 
wamed me. However, to my and hi6 fortune, 
... hft- 
, c4v=..inLTOOg[c 



14 THE VICTIM OF 

he was not at home. Hchadr-asFletro toMme, 
taken, feme papers outorhia tninic, tlurinf; mjf 
abfenco, anil'lfeftthehoufc fuddcnly.' The eten- 
ing and the night patfed without his being te*' 
turned* and he was not come back iii the- morw* 
ing when I weni to the hofpital. 

lentered Palcflci's apartment, burning with' 
Impatience to hear his farther difcoveries. But» 
alas I he was on the brink of<«(emitfj .and died-' 
a-few minutes after mjr arrival,' 

I would hare given worlds if I could havc'pn)-' -. 
longed the life of this man only fora few hours<~ 
His relation had thrown a light otiij over a part - 
of my mTflerious hidorv, ^nd a far greater part'' 
was ftill furrDHRded with impenetrable darknefs. 
] have never been fo fenlible how much mor*' 
painfvl half CitisfiedcarioGn is, than utter igno- 
laacc, or At moft dreadful-, certainty. How 
much did I now r^wnt that I bad not interrogate - 
ed Palefti the day before^ on (he fate of my 
tutor, Amelia's fentiments for me and her abode. . 
The Untnevin had indeed given me very flatter- 
ing hopes, with regard to thefe dear people f 
hswevcr, what reliance could 1 have on the pro- 
mifes of an impoftor ? Entirely left to myfeU'i 1 
was obliged to leave it to fome fortunate accident^ 
OFlohtE generofiiyi whethe^ I ever (hould hafe 
the happineTs of meeting them again ? Frail 
hcpel'and yet it was my only fupp^rtin my 
frienalefs, dtftrefling lituation,' the only propoii> 
which I could lean. Being in a world to v; hich I 
wasalmoftan utter ftranger, without a friend or 
guide, furroundisdwich the invifible fnares oC 
two impoftors, threatened by an' uncertain, and 
gloomy futurity, I- readily -gave myfcJf up to the ^ 
fwcct ideas of poITibility, in order to conlole my^ ' 
£elf for tlie melancholic reality. 

Two- 

D5iz=.JnGooglc 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 15. 

Two ^afs were now elapfcd, and' the Count 
wa^not yet returned, which confirmed my ap- 
prehenfions that he had fled^ A look at his tnink- 
fuggcfted a thought to me which I could not fliake. 
oS; the eonrcquence mas, that I opened it witlt 
a. mallcr-key, with an iRtention.tafearch whether' 
I could not find fome papers, which would throw 
a light upon feveral dark pans of my hiflory. I 
£oundi indeed' a number of letters^ howcrer^ 
they were written in' cyphers.- Nowl-compre- 
Bended why the Count had afkcd repeatedly whe" 
therlooula read cyphers r Hkvlngmsuleitarulc,. 
in-FCgard to this point, always to deny the quef- 
tion, he had probably. left thcfc writings on tbe- 
fuppofition^that Lfhouldnot be abU to read them, 
and faved'only thofe which wece written- in-com* 
mon charaAers. However, the Count had de< 
chived himfelf this time, for I am pretty well, 
ikilled in the art of decyphering. I took.oueo£ 
tbc papers which wete markea i^a> 31 &c. &i:^ 
however, I perceived- on the tirft attempt, that. 
my ait wouU encounter a hard trial. Yctihb 
did not deter,, but rather animated me toexert all 
my flcill to find the key to thefe papers,, while my 
fervantwas occupied with taking an.cxacVcopy- 
of the reft." 

" I had already been working about twenty, 
four hours without feeing my labour crowned^ 
with fuccefs, when my Gcrrant, whomi had fent 
b> the poft, returned with a. lener. Conceive 
my aftonifhment], whenl found.it was from tbe. 
Count." 

" Whatever Faleiki may have difcovered to 
your Grace-, with refped to me,. yet.I'am^&ur' 
ed that he cannot have faid any thing for which 
my confdence condemns me, though 1 Ihould^ 
not be able to. defend it before an scclelialtical,^ 
era civil court of juftice. I hare deceived you ; 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



i6 THE VICTIM OF 

however, I have done it f6r a great and hobic 
purpofe, and by order of a powerful being, whofe 
authority I and yov acknowledge. I fliould-' 
defpifc myfclf, if mean, or felf-interefted views, • 
could have prompted me to do what I have done. 
ToAimutaie you totakcan a£tivc part in the de- 
livery of your country, was the fole reafon for 
whien you have been imposed upon* Although > 
Palefki Ihosld not have difclofed the fccret to 
you, yet you would not have remained in the 
dark much longer, bccaufe it wag the plan of the 
UnkitBwn to remove the veil from your eyes, and 
to introduce yoB into a new workl, for which' 
you was to be prepared by the ddulions which 
you have experienced. Man is led to tiuth W 
error, according to an eternal law of nature, ft ' 
was nccelTary that you (hould be made acquaint' 
ed with delufions, that your look might be Ihar-- 
pcned for future knowledge ; it vras rteceiTary 
you flrauld experience the hlgheft degree of de- 
lufion,. that yeu might acquire the prerogative of 
difceming fraud from reality, and of never fuf- 
fering yourfelf to Ik impofed upon again. Then, 
and not fooner, the time would have arrived, 
when the Uakninun would have (hewn himfelf to 
you in his real fhape, and embraced you not only 
as a prefervcT of your country, but alfo aa a mem- 
ber of that facred foeiety of -wife men, who arc 
admitted behind the curtain of nature, whither 
no eyeof common fhort-fighted men can pene- 
trate. A power and a happincfa of which yon 
can form no adequate notion, would have been 
your reward. Your tutor already enjoys that re- 
Ward, and if you had been, keen-fighted enough 
ro penetrate, without afTiltance, the mitt of de- 
luGons with which yoU have been encompafled, 
you would have been admitted foitie timeCnce to 
the fenftoarjr where that reward awaits you. 
..More 

ctv.-.ii,LTOO'jl> 



Magical DEtus.ioN. 17 

MoK I dare not fay at prefent ; however, I 
would ailvifc you not to pofVpone your journey, 
and neither to betray mc or tlie Unkno^on. \l 
you (light my advice, then you mud arcrtbe to 
yourfelf all the bad confequences which may 
arifefromii, and you never will meet again in 
ihis world your tutor or Amelia. 1 conjure you 
not to miftake this for a new delufioK. If you, 
on the other fide, are inclined to profit by this aii- 
■vite, you will continue your journey with all pof- 
fiblc expedition, and itbt think it tiniflied before 
yoii (hall be arrived at Ma»»"d, the capital of 
f>p**ii. You will meet the Unknoivn, Amelia and 
your tutor, on the road. At "ubea you will 
Jtop at the inn which bears the figii of the golden 
mirror,, where you are to deceive an important vt- 
lit. You will have the coodnefs to fend my trunk 
to the polt-houfe, where one of my psopSe will 
call for it. I remain, wish tlut rclpctt and lave 
with which I always have been. 

Your Grace's^ &c. &c. 

I mud confefs, I never (hould have cipcfted 
fuch a letter. 1 fancied it would be couched in 
terms of repentance and fubmillion, and when I 
opened it, found it to be a letter of a man of 
good confciencc, who took it upon himfelf to ad- 
vife and to warn me. What he told me of a 
hidden faaduary to viihich the Uniuov/n had de- 
/igned to introduce me after I faouW hare com- 
pleted lay time of probation, wa5 an utter rid- 
dle to me, but what he told mc about mjr tutor 
was ftiil more fo. At 6rft I fancied this to be no- 
thing but a varutfli, by which he would conceal 
his deceptions,, and an artifice to cnfnarc mc afc- 
cond time ; however the idea that the matter 
migii be aa he had dated it» made me uneafy, ami 
bis menaces with jcfpeft w the bad confequences 
of 



i8 THET VICTIM OF 

of my difcontihuifig my journey, frigHtened me; 
The bare polTibility of the execution of his 
threats, was fufficient to determine mc to conti- 
nue my journey.— Pietro, my faithlttl fervant> 
endeavoured indeed to pcrfuade me to drop my 
defign, afTaihng me with tears and prayers -, how- 
ever nothing could change my refolution. I- 
wouldhare encountered any danger anddilhcnl' 
tyin order to meet Amelia and my tutor agun, 
and departed with the firft dawn of day. I left 
the Count's trunk at the' poft-houfe at •"zin. At 
"•••jelo I was, at length, fo fortunate as to find- 
a key to the cyphers which 1 had defpaired to un- 
fold. I had already tried all languages which I' 
was mailer of, and fucceedcd at length with the 
latin. How amply did I think my trouble re- 
warded, when I found the papers to be copies of 
letters which the Unknavm had wrote on my m- 
count to Pinto Ribeito, privy counfcUor of the 
Duke of BT**«"za. Here follows the tranfla- 
tkui. 

■ Tour Excellency knows how carefully wc 
endeavoured to eonceal the place of our fecivt 
meetings from the iatrufion of prying ftrangers, 
by rpreading the: report that it was haunted. 
However, this did'iwt deter a young nobleman - 
who is on hia travels, from entering la(l nighe 
the caftle, in company of his tutor, with the Ih'- 
tCBtion of forming an acquatnunce with the 
gho(U. No fooner had we been informed of 
their being arrived at the cadle, when Georgia 
de M"»"» offered to chaftife them for their in* 
' qutrnivenefs, fixing twelve o'clock at nfgbt fos 
the execution^ his defign^ He difguifcd him- 
felf as the mod dreadful fpe^re whi^ ever has 
appeared at midnight: Concluding from the un- 
dertaking of the two flrangcra that iheywcte 
mcQ of Tpiric and refohitian, he put on a coat of 
mulft 



MAGICAL DELlTSroN, 19 

. mail, and covcKd his face with a mafk made of 
- bull-lkiiu, in order to be proof againll f<vords 
andpiHols; a precaution which, as the event 
proved, was not fuperfUious. Thus accoutred* 
he approached at twelve o'clock the apartment o£ 
the (irangers with a tremendbu» noife. Their 
door was bolted hom within as he had' appre- 
hended; however, all the locks and bolts in the 
caftle being conrtriKflsd in- fuch a manner that 
they can be opened from without,. Georgio found 
if not dil&cult to pulh their door open. 1 re- 
mained at the threlhold in order to await the 
event. Georgio no'fooner had entered the room' 
with a defign to chaftife the young man who was 
fitting near the window, . at a Uble on whicfk 
two candles were burning, than his tutor ilarted 
wp, aiming a blow at him from bL-hiiid . which 
would have done his buriiiefs- at once,, if G^or^io. 
had not been pTote£ttd by his coat of mail. The 
pretended fpecire threw tlie old genilemdn To vi- 
olently on the ground that he was unable to mQve 
» limb. This light entirely dlfconcerted the 
young man, who was on the point of firing a. 
pillot at his frightful vifitoF^ Eufhed upbtt him 
with a, thundering voice, extiiiguithed the can- 
Hes, ^nd beating him ia fuch a manner as. if he 
was going to l>eat him to atoms. Georgio's dreft 
being anointed with a falve compofed of phofpho- 
tus, be appeared in the dark 10 be all on lire. 
The dreadful tnipref&on which this light' produced 
on the mind of the young man wag cncreafed by 
the howling,, groaning, and. the tremendous noiu: 
which fome of our company ratfed in the apart- 
tnent over his head } he ieemed to be fenfelefs. 
Aft foon as Georgio perceived hts hetplefs ftate» 
he lighted the candles with, phofphorus, and left 
the apartmeni which he careCully bolted and 
k>cl£ed. 

• Ap 

D51z=.jhGoOqIc 

I '^ 



ao THE VICTIM OF 

' An hour a/tcr this fccii^ had beeiv ^fled, 
Georgio returned to the ?parimcnt, panly with 
the intention of feeing what e&^ tV incident 
tad produced on the llrangcTS, a*d p»rtl]r with 
a view to deter them from paying a fccond vifit 
to the ca(tic,and renewed the former ftene. Both 
of them were again ftretched fenfetefs on theii: 
beds. As footi aa Georgio had done viik the 
young nobleitian, he left the room without tii*- 
dling the taper for fear of beiag watched by ths 
young fpark, if he (hould racover his recolledi- 
on a littls too foon. He was not midakei). But 
who would i,ave thought that the young man 
would be 10 daring to purfue the fpeflre on hi) 
return through the dark palTage? Georgio, who 
did no: entertain' the matt. diflaiU idea of fuch ' 
an attempt, ncicher looked back, nor lliut thsr 
trap-door through which he had juiipcd down 
into the fub[erfaneous vault, upon a heap of hajf 
and lltaw. }U had not advanced four fteps« 
when the report of a piflol re-echoed through 
ihf fubiciraneoiis fabric* Some of onr.compar 
ny, who wereat hdud, hafteccd to tli* fpol from 
whrncc the report of the piftol had proeceded, 
wrapt in black cloaks, and piovided with torches 
and fwords. They found the. young man lying 
vpon the ftraw upon which he had taUemin th« 
dark through the trap-door. He was iuAantly. 
fcizcd and conduced to the affcmbly-room,. 
where the confpirators who had previoully maik> 
ed their faces, were fitting around a long. table. 
Hearing that tic was to pay with his life for his 
raflinefs, he drew his fword, but was foon dif- 
armed and confined in an adjoining chamber. 

' Conceive our afloniflimenr, when we heard, 
who the man was whom we had handled in fuch 
a dreadful manner ! it was Miguel, the fon of 
the Duke of C***'na, . and Count ••'«, Uil- 



M APICAL OfcLUBIOX. ai 

tutor. Moft of th« conCpiHftffs ^ropoftd to ciif-, 
patch both df them, led 6ilr Tecrtt ftiould be be- - 
tuyed] I inCfted however, upton their being cx< 
arhined brfote any thing ftould be dclcrmined, 
to vhich they eonfeated. Miguel confdl^d that 
he had been (ent by his father to Tifit the [iriitci- 
pal towns df Europe in company of his (UtDr^' 
and that the icooant of the prieft at whont hank 
he had fupped, ^ad made hiih curious tb haVb i' 
light of the inhabitann of the cxftle.->-' Their' 
examination being Gnifhed, they were ordered tcr 
reihe, and I hMangucd the tilVmbly til the -f6t< 
Idwing mMtner : 

' YoM expcA to aroid a difcovery by defttOy- 
ing our pTifonCTS; hdWCTer, I believe juft the 
contrary will happen. 'I'he feiirant, tlit 
ptieft, and hisfumily, i:Mi* thdt they have fpent 
the night at the cafllc, and if they do not retunr' 
to-day, the wbote village trill be ilarmed. Tile 
old Duke will be informed of the incident, and 
who-.can feiioully eipedl that he Will be fo cre- 
dulous, at to attribute the death of his fdn to' 
ghofts. His ^fe is too important to the father 
and the Hate, not to caufe the ftri^ell tnVclli- 
giition. The caltls will be furrounded, fearchcd, 
and wc Iballbe dctefkcd, orobliged to fave our- 
felrcs by flight. In either indance, we muit 
leave the caltle. This will be the natural confc- 
quence, and the death of tbefe two men wilt cer- 
ttinly be the fureft means of betraying cur afy- 
lum. I would therefore advife you to fpare their 
Kvea,, I know ihefamily of Villa R'""! too welt 
to apprehend the lealt danger frem the execution 
oftliis propofal. Miguel and Count "•rcz, arc 
men of honour, and if ihey pledge their word to 
conceal the events of this night we (hall be fafe. 
However, thisiis not the Ible reafon for which I 
would advife you to fpare their lives ; I have a 
more 



M THE VICTIM OF 

fnore ImpOTtant view at heart t I intend to gain 
Miguel DTcr to our party. He (ball become a 
iprincipa) a^or in the great ilrama which we arc 
going to pcifonn, and untwilt the knot which 
wc have tied. Teu -are afloniflied ? however^ f 
would bare you to iccolleft that I am net wont 
to atteiqpt what I am not fure to be able to 
-perfonn. I will tell you my plan more ^t large, 
At fomc other time^ at jwerent let us demand an 
oath of fe^efy from our prifoncrs and (ct them 
atliberty. 

< My propofal was adopted, and I fat inftant- 
]y down to inform your Excellency of that inci* 
dent.' 

1 fliould never have believed the Ufihtevm to 
be the writer of this letter, if ( had not been 
convinced of it by the other papers. 3 had al- 
ways looked upon my adventuK «t the cattle, a« 
a fcenc which I thought lo have been clofcd with 
the reoovery of our Hberty, and entirety uncon- 
oeded with the fubfei)ucni events of my Itfc. 1 
iad not entertained the mofi diflant lufpicioB 
that the reft of -my adventures were any ways 
connefted with that incident. I JiifpcAed mdeed, 
from the beginning, the madced pevfons at the 
caftle to be men of high rank, bowever, I 
fhould nevpr bavc thou^t that they were the 
heads of the confpiracy which had been iormed 
to fet my country at liberty. I fancied the Uit- 
kmmon had framed his defign upon me when we 
met him in the difguife -of a beggar } but I never 
dreamed that he had formed it ahcady at the 
caftle, and that I and my tutor owed our lives 
to his mediation. You may, therefore, eaftlr 
conceive how much I was furprifed at this dil- 
corery. I vowed never to forget how much .we 
were mdebted to the Unii.evm. How lemarka- 
1 ,- We, 



MAGJCAL DELTTSiO^. ai 

Ue was tbis letter to me ! hovever the fecond 
was'lKU more To. 

* Tintend to Aibmit Miguel to mr will by the 
-delulions of magic. Your excellency perhaps 
may think, that this plan will be rendered abor- 
tive by a young -man who^vK (o little credit to 
(he rodity of appantions, that he dares to take 
4]p his night'6 lodging at a ca(lle which is famed 
for beiag the haunt of ghofts. However, even 
if I fhould'&ppoie-thatlK'bad no other view ia 
liis viCt to the caille, t^an to encounter an ad- 
venture, yet I muft conclude from that ftep that 
-he has a tendency for enthunafm, which, how- 
erer, .is very diflecent from that which 1 want 
-him to have ; yet ffnthufiafm,, however it n^ay 
•difplay itfelf, -w always enthuliafm ; and the on> 
ly thing I have to aim at is to give it a turn moll 
«on1ifteat with my plan, which will be no difB- 
cult qiattcr with a young man of his temper, 
tiis thiift for knowledge, and unlUble prind- 
j>le». 

• Certainly it would be a great niiflake AS one 
(bould conclude -from his vifit to the callle, that 
he does not believe in the reality of apparitions. 
On the contrary, I think J have reafon to make 
juft'^eKippofite concluGon irem it. If Miguel 
had been convinced of the vanity of appariuons, 
before he came to the caltle, he vKwld not h^e 
tdcen the trouble of acquiring that conviflioij 
by experience ; a fccrct voice, which, in Ipite 
of his phitofophy, pleaded for the poiTibitity of 
apparitions, excited his curiofity, and gave rife 
to that refolution which hC'Carried into executi- 
on. If Miguel had -been convinced, ihat the 
inhabitants of the cadle could be no other be- 
ings but men, faisrefoning to the caftle would 
have been not only fuperiluous, but aUo fool- 
hardy, as he would have expofcd his life to un- 
,. blown 
c4v=.Jnt;TOOg[c 



3+ THE VICTIM OF 

known and Turpe^ed people, for no oilier rea- 
fort b»t to convince bimfelf of 2 truth which lie 
alteady knew. However, his want of a ^m 
Gonvi^ton, hi* wBft<ring between belief and un- 
belief, was the groutid oh which he riflced fa 
much in order to come to the truth. I ani cer- 
tain Miguel's philofophy would have received a 
mortal blow, If Ge^eigio had-a^ed his part with 
more moderation) 

* It will be my chiefs and> I Iiopei, no fruit- 
Icfs aim, to efTe^ this bj means of magical de- 
lulions and art. If I can but gain fo much ad- 
vantage over Miguel, that he, front want of 
capacity to explain my dee^s naturally, IhaLl be- 
gin to think me gifted with fupernatoral power, 
then he will fuffer himfelf to be entirely tuicdby 
me. His diivft for knowledge, and his fondnefs 
of adventuries, will affift me to gain. jn.y atm, 
which would be a difficnit matter, if he were of 
a diiKirenttum of mind. In order to enthrut 
his head and heart at one time, I intend to make 
him acquainted with a female cnthufialt, who 
baa been prompted by the extraordinary incidents 
of her life, to believe in wonders and appariiian& 
of all kinde. Enthuliafm ij catchii^, and parti- 
cularly fo, if the enthuDaft is fuch a beautiful; 
and charming woman as the Gountefs of Clair- 
val. In her company Miguel will eaiily become 
an enthuliaft, who will be equally capable of 
feeing gholh, and (taking his life for his miilrefs 
and his country. If that point is but gained^ 
then 1 flialliind itcafy'w-ork to lead him witb 
rapidity to the mark. AH arguiuents of pbHofiphy 
and palriatlfm never would be abU to gam himfe de~ 
eidedlj and Jo rapdiy to our partj^ as the vtird ef 
a man vibtm he fancies ta pofftfsfitptrtiatural powers 
and to have been ftnt jnm above. \ fhall think it 
my duly to account to your excellency for every 
important 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 15 

important Qcp I fliall take in tliis matter, bacaufe 
your being the foul of our undertaking, renders 
It neceflary you fliould be informed of every ac- 
tion of each individual member, in order to re- 
gulate your conduct accordingly. I only beg not 
to acquaint the Archbilhop of L'fbon of my ma- 
gical operations. Your Eiccllency is no flranger 
to his rigid principles i how active foever he be 
in OUT caufe, and how great foever his fatisfac- 
tion at the conqued of Miguel will be, yet he 
would condemn without mercy the means by 
which I intend to gain him over to our party. 
My own heart would certainly reproach me fe- 
vcrely for the fraud which I am going to com- 
mit againU that excellent young man, if the im- 
portant end which I am aiming at, did not plead 
my excufe, and 1 was not firmly vefolved to open 
the eyes of the deluded man, as foon as I (hall 
have gained my purpofe. 

' I an), &c. &c. &c.' 

The lad lines confirmed the declaration of the 
Count, that the Unkne-mn would have removed 
liimfelf the veil from my eyes. But this did" 
not jullify him in my opinion. Though he 
fliould have deftroyed the delufion at fome fu- 
ture period, was 1 on that account lefs impof- 
ed upon while the deceit laded, and can 
ever low and illicit means be ennobled by lau- 
dable views i However, I cannot deny tliat 

the fagacity with which the Unkm-wn had ex- 
plored my weak fide, the dextrous ufe he made 
of that difcovery, and the finefle of the artifices 
Avhich he employed to deceive me, excited 
my admiration to the highell degree i but at the 
fame time, I mull confefs, that I was feverely 
vexed at the eafe with which my philofophjr 
yielded to his delulive artifices, i was verjr 

Vol. II. B ag'Wr 



26 THE VICTIM OF 

agreeably furprifed to find that the Arclibifhop 
of L<lbon was one of the confpiratois. I 
knew him very well, and it flattered my pride 
to have a (hare in an undertaking in which a 
divine of his wotth and uncommon learning 
was concerned. His rigid principles, which the 
Utiknoioti dreaded fo much, were to mc the 
belt fecurity for the juftnefs of his undertak- 
ing. I took up the third letter, burning with 
an impatient delire to know the names of the 
rellot the confpirators i but its contents we le of 
a difterent nature : 

■ I have made my 6r(l attack upon Miguel and 
his tutor. Knowing by their own declaration 
on thfir examination, which road they intended 
to take, I made hafte to get the dart of them, 
accompanied bv my two Icrvants, and waited 
for them at the Ikirts of the foreft of • • • u1ano, 
three miles diftant from the next town. With- 
ing to make a fuTprifrng and lading impTcflion 
upon their mind, I chofe the moft whimfical 
drcfs. An old tattered coat, which was compofed 
of numberless patches, and a new embroidered 
faiin waiilcoat, which reached down to my,knees» 
gavcmc a vciy lingular appeaiancc j the reft 
of my, body was naked. 1 had fallened to my 
chin a long artificial white beard, which accord- 
ed very little with my bJaclc hair. As foon as 
Miguel's chaife came to the fjiot where I was 
lying in anibulh, I limped forth upon my crutch- 
es and begged the tutor to give nic his (hoes 
and (lockings. It would have highly amufed 
your Excellency if you had feen the alloni(h« 
ment which my unexpe£ied boldnefs created. 
The old gentleman fetmed at lirft to be very 
tinwillimg to comply with my extraordinary 
rcqueA, however, when I perfiftcd in my prayer 
with the impudence of an experienced -beggar, 
without 



MAGICAL DELUSION. a? 

Viihout minding his menaces and curfes, and 
did not ftir from the window of the coach j he 
condcfccndcd at length to grant my requefl. 
When he ftoaped down to unfaden his flioe- 
bucklc«t I perceived a letter-cafe lying by his 
Tide on the feat which he probably had pulled out 
of his pocket with his handkerchief, and taking 
with one hand his' Ihoes and Itockings, I feized 
with the other the letter cafe, without his per- 
ceiving it, and put it in my pocket. Then I 
went to Miguel, whom I hegged to give me 
his coat and breeches. This new requeft ex- 
cited the anger of the two travellers to fuch 
a degree, that they commanded me to take my- 
felf off" without delay. Upon which I looked 
at Miguel with fparkling eyes, and raifed 
fuch a dreadful laughter, that they were frighten- 
ed, and ordered the coachman to go on. How- 
ever I darted fuddenly forth and Itruck one of 
the horfes fo violently againit hie privy parts, 
that he dropped down; This had the delireJ 
, effcA. Miguel began to undrefs ; having pulled 
off bis breeches, he took his porfe out of 
his poclcet and put it in a coat which the fervant 
had taken out of his travelling trunk ; however, 
I cfpicd a proper opporiunity while Miguel 
.^703 putting on a new pair t^ breechcE, and pil- 
fered his purfe. When they had done drefling 
and undrefling, I thanked them for their dona- 
tion, warning them at the fame time not to 
take lodging at the principal inn of the town, 
and to repair again after three days at a fixed 
hour, to. the fame fpot where we then were. 
'I'hcn I hobbled away with my booty towards 
the foreft, whefc I contemplated piece after 
piece with mpre faiisfatiion than a general 
feels after a gained battle. And indeed although 
tlic deed I had performed was riot of the heroic 
B 2 kind. 



^ THE VICTIM OF 

kind, yet. it \fis ^o tfUling qftion to have de- 
BiaiKled and receired of tbe fon of a Dulce hia 
coat and breeches, and of a Count hia (boea and 
fiockings, ^med with i)o other veapon bitt mj 
criflchcs, and dreflcd in (he garments of a mife-* 
lable beggar. Every one muft confefs that 
this attempt would never have Succeeded, if an 
uncommon degree of refolution, boldnefs, /irm- 
nefs, and prefenf^e of mind ^ad not been M 
mj. command, not to mention the feil4iK of the 
letter-cafe and Miguel's purfe) wiiich ercry pick- 
pocket would have cflVfted with equal fuccefe. 
However, this aAion is fqi Miguel and his tu- 
tor, .of no left importance than the former. I 
have gained .9 great advantage, myhxA interview 
with .them having been attended with incidents 
.wjiich for many j:eafone, will make a deep im- 
prcflion on their jnind. I have now the courage 
to rilk boMcr attempts with ihe certain hope 
of fucceis. Even the confpirators to whom I 
Jiavc lient bv one of the fervants the pieces of 
drefs whicn I have got, along with a brief 
^fCcouiU of my taking pofl~e&Qn of them, will 
look ufOD^thefe tiophicsas pledges of far great- 
er «iAoric^ which I have ^iiga^ed to gain over 
lilfguct, and for which every preparation has 
been nude. I did not without reakin feledl the 
^t on the (kirts of the foreft of * • •ulano for 
the fqcu^ of Bftioii> for in that foreft ftandt a 
calllcwl^ich formerly beloiiged to the Prince of 
Ge* * *, and at ptetent is inhabited by the Coun- 
tcfs of Clvairat, that cnthuliall of whom I luve 
given a dcfcription to your Excellency in my 
lait letter. I intend to allurcMiguel to her re- 
fidence, whenhc Ihall come 10. the place of ren- 
dezvous. And he certainly will not mife the 
appointment ; for if he does not come out of 
curioficy, the hope of regaining the putfe and the 
letter- 



MAt;iCAL DELUSION. 19 

letter-cafe, which he knows fo be in nty poIfcP- 
Son, will in:tke him keep the affignation. And 
1 iltall certainly reftore ihefe things to hinit 
for I *ift to appear to him to be an extraordi- 
narjr man, bat not a pick -pocket ; howerer, M 
fhall receive them no where but at the caflit 
of the Coantefs. I have formed a plan to that 
puFpofe wliich promlfes to be of important 
confequences, and fhall be laid before yoar Ex- 
cellency in my next letter. 

■ It was alfo not without proper reafon, that 
I a dvi fed Miguel not to lodge at the principal 
inn of the town,. Ixjt I wantedto know by his 
regarding or difregarding this caution, wliether 
my worcfs had made animpreflionon his mind, 
and found credit with' him or not. For that 
Tcafon I. went in the dulk of evening to the 
town, accompanied by my fervant, and dfeficd' 
in a common unfufpe^led garb, taking apart- 
ments at the inn againtl which I had cautione(l> 
him io'Crder tO'Iuiow-whether' he. had foltoWedi 
my advice. But alai I I have been rathertoo ' 
fmguine in my hope, for Miguel and his ra- 
toT arc at prefent in that rery inn : . howererj 
t. will puntlh him.forit in. fuch-1' manner, 
that he (haU hare reafon to > repent his haring 
flighted, my advice. With that view I have 
taken an apartment clefe by his, and I muft beg 
your excellency tt» give me leave to lay dswn^ 
the pen and to »€t, for midnight is fct in,, 
and the time for. executing my plan is at: 
tund. . 

•lam. 8rc Itc* 

The folbwing Oieet contained the contiiluation < 
of this letter. ■ 

« Woriderful things hate happened fince Ii 
hod the honour, to write to your Excellency t ' 



30 THE VICTIM OF 

My dcfigns have a rapid fuccefs, and fortune 
herfelf feems to favour them. 1 had formed a 
plan to chaltifc Miguel and his tutor for their 
difobedience ; however the execution of this 
dedgn has been interrupied hy an accident, 
which has afliQcd nie to gain my aim in a 
more glorious manner than I eve^ could have 
cxpe^ed, 1 had already put on the garb of a 
monk, which I had brought with me in niy 
portmanteau, had laftened the white beard 
(which however had been almoft fct on fire by 
the candle) to my chin and was going to ex- 
ecute my plan, when a fudden alarm of fire 
difturbed the houfc. The prcQing danger not 
allowing me to change my drefs, 1 efie^cd my 
cfcape in my difguife, and concealing my port- 
manteau which I had fortunately faved in a re- 
mote corner, I took with nny lervant a pofition 
which rendered it impoflible fur Miguel and his 
■tutor to get out of Llic houfe without my feeing 
it. However my anxiety rufe to the higbeit 
degree, when the fire had confumcd already the 
greatcft part of the houfe, and Miguel wasftill 
in it. My apprehenfioiis had reached the 
liighelt fiimmii when I fuddenly fuw him aud 
his tutor rufi) Mt of the burning building. My 
fervant, whom 1 had ordered to watch carefully 
every word and motion of theiis, was clofc at 
their heels, while I followed him at a fmall dif- 
lance, concealing my face with my hood. Ibey 
hadnofooner Hopped, than Miguel recollefted 
that he had left the pidure of his m<jihcr up- 
on [he table ; he valued it fo high, that he 
would have gone back to fetch it, if his tutor 
had not retained him forcibly. My fervant, 
who gave roe this intelligence, fufl«red him,- 
felf to be perfuadcd by his Jove for me, and 
the ten ducats which 1 offcreii to- him, to at- 
tempt 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 31 

tem)]t raving it. Pretending to affift in extln- 
guKhing the flames, he requeued one of the 
firemen ta give him a wet blanket, wrapped 
himfclf in it, got fafe into the houfe, went 
to Miguel's apartment, felzed the picture, which 
was lying upon the table, and jumped out of 
the window, which was nat higher than one 
pair of flairs, in order to avoid the dangerous 
retreat through the houfe. He pulhed through 
the muhitude, who were loudly admiring his 
boldnefs, and gave mc the piflure. I returned 
it to Miguel, reproaching him feverely foT 
having flighted my advice. He was aftoni(hed». 
and looked- akeroately at me and the pifturp. 
I cfpied a favourable opportunity, concealed my- 
felf behind my fervant ;; and ftooping down, - 
untied my beard, and pulled off my monk's 
garb unobferved by the multitude, whofe atten-' 
lionwas entirely taken up by the fire. I could 
not helpk laughing when Miguel, after he had' 
gazed fome time- at the pidtnre, took my fer- 
vant by thearm; millaking him'for me, and' 
perceiving his error, enquired in • vain ' all around ' 
forme, though I was not fix fteps diftant front' 

• Thefe events couM not fail to flrengthen the 
fivil impreflion which I had made upon hiin' 
in (he difgutfe of a beggar, and tO' make him' 
believe that 1 could be nothing lefs than ^ footh- 
faycr, and a worker of miracles. This was 
juft what I wanted, for it enc rea fed his de fire 
to get better acquainted with me, and made him - 
impatient to meet mc the third day at the ap-f 
pomted place. * 

* Your Excellency may eafily think that 1" 
^,,*asnftt idlfij^^gritig this interval, and did not 
'':-:^nit' to m^MdHtt^'^P" P^^P^"^''^''' ^°' ^''^'^~ ' 

j^ei'* rece^^iP^Bay principal care was to- 
^ ^^ B 4 gahi 



31 THE VICTIM OF 

gain the fervants of the Coumcfs, to wliofe . 
houfe I intended to introduce him, that I might 
aft my part at the cafllc without the knowledge 
of the lady.' At the fame time I endeavoured 
to attain a thorough knowledge of all the loads 
and bye pa;hs, of all the bufhes and haunts of 
the foTcft, in order to regulate my meafures ac> 
cordingly, and to take advantage of them as 
circumftanceE fliould require. I alfo did not 
omit to train my fubflituies properly, for their 
refpcflivc parts which they were lo ail. Their 
number amounted to eight experienced fellowG> 
for my fervant IVIanuel, whom I had difpatched 
to the defolaicd caille, with the abore mentioned 
pieces of drefs, ret'irned on the fecond day with 
fix more people, whom the confplrators had fent 
to my aOiftance, with the afliirance that I could 
rely upon their fidelity aad aOivity. And, in- 
deed, thefe fcilowi rendeicd mc the mod cUcn- 
tial fcrticcs, as the confetiucnce will Skew. 

' I muft not omit mentioning (en pafrant)a 
romical adventure which happened to me in the 
couife of thefe three dayg. Taking a walk 
through the fuburbs, I chanced to meet two 
vagabonds who pretended to be necromancers. 
I fuffcred myfelf to be perfuadcd to follow them 
to their gatret, where- they performed a conjura- 
tion amid the moll antic grimaces and ceremo- 
nies. I beheld their comedy with an aficAation' 
of great ferioufnefs; but when the ghofl ap- 
peared, I could not difiemble any longer, and 
broke out in aloud laughter. This unexpected 
manifellatioii of merriment, at a time when they 
expedled mc to be feized with fear and trembling, 
convinced the necromanceis that I was not to 
eaiily to be tmpofed upon, and apprehending 
to beicnt to the houfe of corre£lion or to the 
pillory, they begged tnc vith anxious fubmilBon 



MAGICAL CfiLUSItJN. 35 

nat to deprive thim df their honour, anJ the ' 
(July meaws left thfinl to get a fufficlent livclihjod. ■ 
ACaring tlwfn thit I hot only would bury in 
fiiiince thft *holtf impofturc, but alfo might want 
their affiltanca oCcarionally, they parted with ms 
inhighfpirits. — ■ 

• The three days were ehpred, the appointed ' 
hourarfived, and Vith it Miguel and his tutor.- 
I was Waiting at the (kirts of the forell and ma tc 
*fignal to them to approach, retiring deipsr in- ■ 
to the forcft, as' they caiie nearer, and con- 
tinued to beckon filently to them to follow me. 
Having proceeded to a confidenbij difllnce, 
and ftill walking brilkly uilward without Uttering 
a word, tli; tutor called to me to declare 
whither I intended to conduct tliem ? HoWJvcr 
I purfued my way without returnltig an anfwer, - 
and continued to beckon to them to follow m% 
This raifed their anger, as I had expciled, and ■ 
Miguel darted after me like lightning ; however 
1 'pulled off my coat, Bung my crutches upon ■ 
the ground, and winged my (leps. Biing al- ■ 
nwft entirely direncumbercd of garments, and 
well acquainted with every inch of- the forell, . 
I got iiot only the ftart of mypurfuer, but alfo 
had the advantage to run with mare eafe-thaii 
him, and could conceal myfelf every now and 
then in the bulhes, and re-appear iif anoppolite 
direction. I continued to look frequently back 
after Migue), and as often as I perceired his 
ardor'of purfuingmcbcginto cool, I fulF^red him ■ 
to gain grouni,. which rekindled his hope of 
catching me at laft, and thus kept him in con - 
Ilant motion. I prolonged my way, talcing 
great rounds, and running conllantly in a fer- 
pcntine line, in order to tire the tutor, and to 
make the ferranis lofe our traces, in which t'^ 
fuccecded with the fetting inof night. How- 
» S '"'' 



34 THE VICTIM OF 

ever, Miguel feemeil now ferioufly inclined to 
rLturn. As foon aa I perceived his intention, 
I took a fliort cloak, which was anointed with 
afalve of phofphoius out of my pocket, threw 
it over n\y (houlders, and got upon one of the 
lower branches of a tree, flruggling as if I had 
entangled myfelf accidcnt^ly in the twigs, and 
could not extricate myfclf. My lucid cloab 
made Miguel take notice of that fpeftacte,. 
and he darted towards the (ree with the rapidity 
of the tempc(t, not doubling to get me in hi» 
power i, however I difappointed him again, 
leaping upon the ground, and taking to nay 
heels. Iinraged at this new deception, and 
fed need by the light of my cloak, Miguel began 
again to run after mc, till at lengh I took the 
cloak from my Ihoulders, putting it in my pock^ 
ct, and concealed myfclf in a thicket without 
being perceived by him. 

* Now I had gained my aim, having reached 
the fpot where my eight myrmidons expected us. 
They furrounded him entirely, leaving only the 
front oppn. He called in vain to his tutor and 
(enant^ in vain did he accute himfelf of having 
comn^itled a foolilh aClion ; it was too late I. 
he flung himfelf upon the ^ound in a kind of 
dcfpair. One of my people who was near him 
began to Itir ; Miguel darted up, but obferving 
ro body, he again fat down. However his in- 
liOble guard began again to flir a lictle time 
after; Miguel rofc and purfued his way, aftet 
be had drawn hislword. 

•< It was now entirely dark, and a violent tem- 
peft arofe, which gave my people an opportu- 
nity to follow him within a fmall . dillance, 
without being eitlv^r^ heard or feen. They, at 
the fame time, ijnitated the roaring of wild beads 
in fuch a natural manner, that Miguel began to 
L,....„Goo-5k- ""^ 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 33 

rtin with all his might, hurried onward hy dread- 
ful terror. The roaring rcfoundcd behind him, 
at his left and his right, and confeqiiently he had 
no other way left open for flight than in front, 
and this was what I wanted, becaufe this wai'' 
tile way which led to the caftle of the Countefs.' 
As foon as he came in the open field and faw the 
caftle, which was illuminated, from that fide, 
he fled towards it, in o^-der tO gCf out of tht 
reach of the wild beafts, which, as he ima'gined, - 
were in purfuit of him. His ringing the' bell re- 
peatedly, and his loud exclamations, befpoke 
plainly thcgreatnefs of his aniiety. - The porter^ 
who was previoufly informtrd of his ' arrival, - 
opened the gate and admitted him. As foon as 
Miguel had reached the caftle, I ordered my 
people to go in fearch of his tutor, but not to 
awaken him if they fhould find him afleep, and 
to give me notice of it. I intended to terrify, ■ 
and to make him rcfper£l my power, for I toufd 
not forget th*t he had flighted my caution' with 
regard to the inn; Miguel difcovercd him firft, 
and informed me of it. As- foon as the reft of 
niy people were returned to the place of rendez-- 
vous, ■ we went to the f |Jot where h; was flecp- 
ing. There I ordeicd the fix fellows whom the 
confpirators' had fent me, to difperfethemfclvcs 
among the bufhcs, and- to attack' the tutor and 
his fervaiit with their poniards as foon as they 
ihouldrife, yet without endangering their lives, 
enjoining them particularly to fpare the tutor, 
and to run away with figns of terror as foon as I 
ihould appear. However the mock attack 
would have had ferious confequences in fpite of 
my precauiion, if I had not come in timej for 
the tutor and the fervant, who wsre armed with 
cutlafles, defended themfeWes in fuch a furious 
■ manner, that the fight very foon grew hotter 
than 



jfi THE VICTIM OF 

than I intended it ffiould. I rufhed therefore, 
forth from mj lurking place, in order to put 
an end to the combat. The countenance of the 
tutor befpokc eratitude and anonifbment when 
he (aw the fix fcllowB run howling away as foon 
as I appeared. " Reium to town (faid I) for 
now you arr fafe !" Having pronounced ihefe 
words, I )cft him fuddenly, Mcaufe I did not 
chufe to converfe with him. 

" I advifcd him not without reafon to return 
to town, for if he had continued his wanderings 
through the foreft, he ntight hare difcoTered the 
cadle of the Countefs, and inquired For MtgueU 
which I thought very fuperfluons. Your ^:tt 
ccllency will, perhaps, be dcfirous to know how 
Miguel fared at the caftlc ? I (ball, therefore, 
not omit to give you a fatisfaClory account of it 
in my next letter, &c. &c. &c. 

In the following {heets ] found a clrcum(1an< 
tial defcriptlon of all the tricks of which Palelki 
already had informed me. In order to aToid 
needlefs repetitions, I (liall therefore tranfcribe 
only thofc palTages which throw a light upon 
things of which Palelki had told me nothing* 
probably becaufe he was not privy to them. 

'— It 1 am not mtdaken in Miguel's character, 
he will be piefent at the apparition which I have 
promifed to the Counted, i confefs that I 
anxioully wifh he ma^ , and that I have made 
that pTomife to Amelia principally on his accounts 
In order to prepare him for the apparition, I 
have fent Manuel to the two necromancers whom 
1 have mentioned in my lad letter, to ilefire ihcm 
to wait for Miguel not far from the tViris of the 
foreft, and to perfuade him-to fee one of their 
juggling farces. I Iiavc ordered my fervant to 
give them an accurate defcripiion of his pcrfon 
and drcfs, that they may not mifs him. I rea- 
fonetl 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 37 

foned thus : If thcCe fellows fucceed in deceiving 
him, he will not only be prepared for the fcene 
which I am goinp; to tSt at the cadle, but at thti 
fame time he will be more impatient to witnefa 
it i if they do not fucceed, and Miguel difcoTers 
the cheat, he will be (6 much the more inclined 
to take- the deception which I am preparing for 
Kim, for llerling truth, becaufe he will not be 
able to penetrate the fine^fpun web of it ; and 
belicTe it to be fupematural, becaufe his philofo- 
phyand experience are not fuffieient to explain 
It in a natural ntiuiner.— But if Miguel fheald 
decline being prefent on that occafibn, contrary 
to my espeftation, even* then my labour would 
not be enti^^ly loft, for he will certainly- hear aa 
account of it from the lips of the Countefs, who 
will rather exaggerate than leflen the miraculous 
incidents which Oie is going to witnefs, and how 
readily will Miguel believe the unfufpicious words 
' of that beautiful emhufiaft.' ■ ■■ ■ " Triumph ! 
Miguel and his tutor have witnelTed the appariti- 
on fcene at the caitle. The Countefs herfelf has 
accompiifhed my mod anxioua withes without 
knowing it, and invited- them to be prelent on 
that occafion. Ic is a remarkable inllancc of the 
contradictions of the female heart, that the very 
iady who was fo defirous to fee her deceafed hol- 
band, was feized with fuch an horror at it on the 
day when her anxious defire was to befatislied, 
that, without paying the Icaft regard to female 
delicacy, (he wrote a letter of iiwitation to Mi- 
guel. How glad was I on the receipt of that in- 
telligence, that I had omitted nothing in the pre> 
paration for [hat fcene, that can confound even 
the moft acBte genius, and give to deluGongthe 
greatcit appearance of truth ! Count Clairval 
aded the part of his deceafed brother. — TTour 
Excellency knows that fine acute geniu8> who by 
- - - the 

ctv.-.ii,Googlc 



38 THE VICTIM OF 

} ■ 
the intricate incidents of liis life, and a long fe- 
ries of esperience of alt kinds, and his own re- 
fleftions, has acquired the capacity of undertak- 
ing anf thing with Aiccefg— who eMI dfahilq- 
Iqms hmrf cgtThil. mgsrlm- FSchypSr. hlny- 
hsrrpqvbs. grbir. ftbC - - Bvnmp lg(\zmin. 
nf Im. Fortunately he was not above thirty miles'' 
diftancc from the callle *, I fcnta ferrant on horfe- 
backfoT him. Hecould not refufe my requefty 
bccaufc nrm.-Bvndrgn hgigs : tbt : ggrmra-hlt." 
tseTs-.-Crsth: pesrs : tfgn, InsnM.bttr. — ■ — .'* 
" I have tranfcTibcd thefe words which 1 could 
not decypher, only bccaufe a more fl^ilFul gcniu«^ 
^ than myfclf may find the key to- them. The Jamc 
cyphers occurred fcvcral times in the remaining 
fbccts, and my Incapacity to decypher them was - 
the more painful to me, bccaufe I h<>d reafon to - 
think that they contain fee rets of great ioipoi' 

Of the following letter only the conclufion dc 
ferves to be tranfcribed. 

" I am firmly convinced, that in Miguel's 
and Amelia's heart a pafTion has taken rife, which 
foon will burfl out in blazing flames ; the pre- 
fcnt which he has made her of a ting of great 
value, which fhe has accepted, his loo^s at ta- 
ble, Amelia's extraordinary kindnefs for him, . 
and his conltemation on account of her illnefsj 
are inconteltable proofs of the truth of this ob- 
fervation. How much focver this mutual pa0i-- 
on coincides with my plan) bccaufe it furnilhes 
me with- infallible mean« to allure the inconltdnt', 
fickle Miguel, yet I muft make hallc to interrupt 
this growing pailion, bscaufe I am afraid he will 
be cnQayed fo much by that enchanting lady, 
that he wii! be rendered unfit for matters of great- 
er importance. 

" For 

D51z=.JnG0t>5li 



MAGfCAt DELUSION. 39 

" For that leafon I hare inftnif^Oi the apps' 
rition to utter a few words, which I could fore- 
fee would caufe a fmiill breach between the two- 
lovers.. Tour Excellency will recollcfl that the 
gholl accufect Miguel's father of being his muf« 
derer. By ihefe means, I hope to put.at leaft a 
tetDporary (top to Miguel's and Amelia's growing 
intimacy -t for tt cannot be expend that the fon 
of the fuppofed murderer of the Count will dare. 
to pay his addrelTea to his widow } and if ho 
Ihould, it is to be expected that (he will decline 
admitting his viCts^ or at leaft, treat him with, 
coolnefs and referve. However this mifunder- 
ftanding . would not be of long duration, for on 
clofe examination, both would &nd themfelves 
deceived by the appariciony and their love would 
gain, additional force. For that reafon I have 
wrote a prefling letter to Miguel's father, with- 
out fubfcribing my oaine, and advlfediitm to or. 
der his fon to continue his travels without delay^ 
that lie might be cured of a foolilh palTion which 
he had for the Countefs of Batbis. I hope thi». 
ietter will have the delircd efFccl.; and I wilt 
keep myfclf in.rcadinefs to follow Miguel every 
where with my myrniidons ; for.my plan lequitea 
that I never Qiould lofe Gght of him." 

"The following letter is fo important that!, 
muftinfcct it atfuUlengtb :. 

" Mt LohDi 

** You have accufed me in your letter from the 

twelfth of this month, of having adled equally 

diftionell and imprudent, by fufFering the Count, 

when difguifed as a fpedlre, to fay an untruth, 

. which injures the honour of an innocent > man, 

and if ever difcorered by his fan or the Coun- 

tefsj will brand him and myfclf as impoilors. I 

could 

. ctv.-.ii,Googlc 



40 THE VICTIM OP- 

could Imvc prevented thcfe' fcfcre reproaches -of- 
your Excellency, if I had hien at Icifurc to ex^ 
plain this tnattcr at large in mj lafl letter. I^ril 
yon will giTC rtie leave to obfcrvc, thatthc decla- 
ration of the g})o(t ii ^no untruth, but- only an 
CTBcie, ,tbe duplicity to which beings of that kind 
are much addl^ed. Amelia's hulband has really 
been aflairmateJ by order of the man *hom Mi- 
guel Icalls fither } however, that perfon isnot 
hie parent) but only the ptefemr of his life i in 
fhon^ it ia Vifconcello's Secretary of State at 
L**b'*il, who has fared Miguel's life when a- 
boy« and for (hat reafon is called br him hie fe- 
cond father. This man the ghoil nad in viev,' 
and.of -courfe has fpbken the truth, but only ha* 
been mlf under flood. This mifundernandtng pro^ 
duced the accidental, and if your Excellency will 
give me ieare to add— the falutary confequence 
of feparating Miguel and the Couiiicfs. Fearing, 
however, the accufation of the ghoft might pro- 
duce fatal confcquences for the Marquis of Vil- 
la R'at, and Amelia be tempted to revenge the 
death of her Lord, the ghoft took the precaution- 
to add, '* be generous and forgive my murderer." 
—The honour of the Marquis, which properly 
haS' received no injury from the declaration of- 
thc ghoft} but only from the mifunderftanding> 
Ihall, Ivow folemnly> receive ample fatisfaftion. 
I have it myfelf too much at heart that theCoun- 
tefsand Miguel ftiall know the real murderer of 
Amelia's huiband, as not to remove that error ; 
being defiious to fee the good undetdanding of 
the two lovers reftored at foftie future pctiod* 
and the aHaOTin punifhcd for his numbertefs crimes. 
You have ligned the fentencc which the reft of 
the confpirators have pronounced agalntl this op- 
preflbr oi the libeny of your country, with the 
lull conviftion of his' deferving death ; but 
would 



MAGICAL DELUSIOrf. 41 

would not Miguel look tmon him rather as his 
bcnefaflor and preferver of his life, than as an 
enemy to. his native countr^i aiul prompted bjr 
gratitude and pity, endeavour to fave his life I 
However, if he (hall be informed tha? the pre- 
ferver of his life is not only the opprefforor hil 
native country, but alfo the aflaflin of Amelia's 
Lord, then his love for the Countefs will give an 
additional energy to his pafriotifm, aiid filence his 
gratitude for Vaf**"*'los j then the voice of his 
country and of the beloved of his heart, de- 
manding revenge upon die villain, will filence 
the voice of his heart Imploring his mercy -» he 
will facriGce the devoted vi£lim to jullice, at the 
ezpeace of his fcnfibility, and confcnt to Vaf- 
con***Ios's death. Not invain did I introduce 
the apparition in fuch a rueful Hiape, not in vain 
inftniA it to dlfplay the bleeding wounds, and to 
difcover his horrid aflalflnation ! even the coolelt 
obferver would have been inflamed violently by 
that fcene, and how vehemently muil it have 
provoked the lover of tlie unfortunate lady to 
refentment againft the murderer ? Tour Excel- 
lency will confccjuentiy eafily conceive what my 
fecond fecret aim was, which [ dc(ig>ied to attain 
by the apparition, and, at the fame time, be con- 
vinced that 1 have expofed neither the ghoU nor 
myfctftothe danger of being caught in a /u, al- 
though Amelia and Miguel thould difeover that 
the murderer was not the real father of the lat- 
ter. However, this difcovery could not take 
gace, becaufe Miguel has ceafed viliting the 
Duntcfs, and received orders from his father to 
leave, without delay, the caftle and its environs. 
Amelia's fervants have drawn this grateful intelli- 
gence from his fervant, and communicated it to 
raCf upon which 1 put myfelf and my people in 
rcadineft to follow Miguel on the day of his de- 
parturci 



41 THE VICTIM OF 

parturc, partly on horfcback, and partly in 
coaches. To the valet of the Countcfs, who « 
entirely in my inteicft, I have given fome impor- 
tant orders, which 1 iniend to communicate at 
large in nty ncM letter." 

I was already arrived at "ubia, and accommo- 
dated with a lodging at the inn which the Count 
had pointed out tq me, when I finilhed the dc- 
cyphering of this letter. Night had fet in, and' 
I was mufmg on the important vifit which the 
Count had promifcd me, when I heard the rolling 
of a coach, which Hopped under my window. 
A few mo n cuts after my fervant came to inform 
me that an Irifli captain, wtiofe name was Drom- 
ley, wanted to fpciak to me. The word Irifli 
chilled the very marrow of my bones — " Let 
him come in !" faid I, turning my face fnwn the 
(ervaiit, to conceal from him the emotions which 
mufl have been painted in every feature. I (lep-- 
ped to ihc window in order to recover i^^felf a 
little : the door was flung open, and ait oiEcer in 
»blue uniform entered the room — I advanced lwo> 
(leps to meet him, and faw tlie Unknown Hand- 
ing before me. The fight of him made ms- 
fpccchlcfs. " You will be furprifed, my Lord !, 
to fee me here^" faid he, " however the con- 
cerns of your heart are of fo much importance to^ 
me, that nothing oould deter me from paying yoU" 
a vifjt." Here he (lopped. Not one fyllable cf- 
capedmylips. He looked at me withfeeming' 
unconcern, advanced a Hep rtearer, and rcfumed- 
in a foft winning accent, "My Lord I you love- 
the beautiful Countcfs Clairvai ! however, you 
would love her in vain, if my power had not re- 
moved every obltacle, and enfured you her reci- 
procal love." 

Now I had recovered the power of utterance. 

*■ Then you. have informed her,'' I exclaimed^^ 

*' that 



MAGICAL DELUSION. « 

•' that her Lord has not been aflaflinated by niy 
real father ?" 

The Irilliman fcemed to be ftruck with furprifc, 
examining inquifiiivefy my looks, and after » 
fhort paufe, continued in a firmer accent : <' It 
was my duty to make this difcavery to Amelia i ' 
however, it would neVer have been fufficicnt t» 
procure you her reciprocal love, if I had not done 
ibmething which was not my duty." 

•• Wiat have you done ? My notions of you r 
actions have been confounded To much* that % 
cannot thank you before hand." 

" Thank ! he replied haugh:ily, " as- if 1 
cvei had done any thing for the fake of thanks ^ 
In order to favc you that trouble, I will not tclb 
you what I have done for you." 

The (liain in which he fpokc confounded mc 
I returned no anfwcr. 

*' However, fmu{lca.utbn you,." he continu- 
ed, *' not to rcprefcnt inc to the Countefg as an 
impollor, if you do not wifti to deftroy the cffeft 
of the fervice which I have done you. You will 
be convinced at fome future period how nccclTary 
it is for yout own happinefs. not to flight this, 
advice." 

'< If I am to enjoy the happinefs which you 
have piep-Jjed for nie, I muH lirlt know the rcfir- 
dcncc of Amelia." 

>< Not before you have pledged your honouB 
to follow my advice." 

« Should I fufler Amelia to be tmpoled upoa 
liVe myfelf^ Ihould I owe her love to a detu- 
flOD ?" 

•' "Who has told you that I have impoled upon 
the Countcfs ? You do not know a& yet what I 
have done j it would therefore be jull not to con- 
demn nicbefore^hand, as you refufe to thank me 
bdEprc-iiand for what I have done 1" 



4* THEVICTIMOr 

** I judge of an aflion of yours which I dtf 
not know, from your former anions, which I 
know very well, at prcfent. Can you call tfaU 
Htijull i" 

*' This conclufion is at lead premature. Every 
plaa ought to be adapted to the ezifting circum- 
ftances, and every a^km &ttcd (o the plan} 
therefore, as foon as the circumftances and the 
. phn are changed, one ought not to judge of the 
piefcnt a£lioiis from the preceding ones." 

*< I do not comprehend you completely." 

*' You have been tried by delufions ; however 
the time of probation i« pall t the deluGons have 
made room for the dawn of truth, which is riling 
in your mind." 

t« Who has. authorized you to try me ?" 

*• Who has authorized me to fave you from the 
waves i" 

*■ Why this quedion inllead d ananfwcr ?^ 

" To tell you (hat every body, ii authorized to. 
be ufcful to another perfon, without bis knov-- 
kdge and permiflion." 

" I hope you will not make me believe that- 
you have deceived me in otdcr to promote my 
nappinefs !.'' 

*• If delulions are leading to truth, then they 
are undoubtedly means of promoting kappinefs." 

"Indeed! According to my notions^ rM/hap- 
pinefs never can be founded upon : deluGon, at . 
truth never can originate from error. DeluGona . 
and errors are obltaclcs on the rood to happine(9 
aodtruthj.but never will be the me^ns of pn>>~ 
moting them. 

" Then you muft blame luture for a£ting af-? 
ter a plan entirely oppolite to your notions. Has 
(he not made imagination, the mother of illuG- 
on, the fourcc ot unfpcakable pleafures. It is 
imagination done that on aSord what reality 
never.- 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 45 

nerar can give— ^never fadatcd enjoirnwnt. Ima- 
gination preferves, renews and improvei evcrf 
ple«fuve of the fcnfct— What elfc but imaginati- 
on is the Tourcc of the pureft and molt fublime 
raptures of lore ? Or do fou perhaps think that 
the perceptions which we receirc Uirough our 
fenfcs are free of iltufton, that we are never de- 
ceived by the oigans which nature has giv«a us ? 
Tour ideas would be jull if we could know bf 
means of our fenfcB, the objefls themfelves, and 
not merely their appearances ; the eflcntial 
fubftance, and not merely the fupcrficirs 
' of things; however, as our &afes never 
Ihew us the thing icfelf, but only its exterior ap- 
jiearance, the reality of fenGble perceptions is 
always very fufpiciou^. And (ince, from nur 
fcnliolc perceptions, even our. plained notions 
ire abftrafted, one mull either doubt the ccr- 
tainty of logical arguments, or allow that illuli. 
ons are the path leading to truth. Common ex. 
pericnce teaches us, that one improves in know- 
ledge by committing errors. It is as incontro- 
vertible that error precedes truth, as it cannot 
be denied that darkhefs precedes the light. If 
therefore nature herfelf leads man 10 truch and 
happ^ncfs by way of delulions and errors, then 
you cannot blame me for having eudeavoured to 
lead yo u to that mark by the fame road." 

« Eiut to what fort of happinefs and truth i 
for no real happLiefs, and no pure truth can ex- 
ilt, it ail our perceptions and notions are found- 
ad on illultons." 

« You are miAaken, ra t Lord, tliey really 
exift i however they diSer widely from what 
men generally believe to be truth and Lappinefs." 

■' Then you are going to make me acq laintcd 

with a Bcw itiai of happinefs and irath, and 10 

lead 

D51,z=.J,nGOOglC 



46 . THE VICTIM OF 

lead me to uncommon light by the common road 
of illufion }" 

<■ Man mud be treated in a human manner, 
and improve by degrees. A fudden tranfition 
from twiHsht to the radiant glare of the noon- 
lide fun, from the land of iWcet fancied to pure 
naradiGacat blife, would tranfport the fon of duft 
beyond himfelf. ' For that rcafon, it was requi- 
fite you fhoiild experience ail the intermediate 
degrees of illufion, but not of an ordinary one, 
in order to obtain poflcffion of an extraordinary 
treafure- That fpot, where you will find the ta- 
Jifman which breaks the magic ch^irm whereby 
the treafure is withheld from you as yet, is the 
h gheft pinnacle of illufK»i, and for that very 
Tcafon the lad degree of it. He who has hap- 
pily arrived at it, emerges .from the mazy laby- 
rinth of enchantments, beholds a new heaven and 
a new earth, and, as if new created, ftridcsover 
into the kingdom of unadulterated truth and 
blifs J where he enters the facred porch of that 
eternal temple from which only the grave fepa- 
ratej him." 

" I do not entirely comprehend your emhle- 
niatical language ; will you explain yourfelf more 
at large i" So -faying, ] offered him a chair ; wc 
fat down, and he began : 

<■ The hillory of all ages and nations convin- 
ces us that all men iii\\c to be happy : but only 
the better and nobler part of maiilcind arc in 
purfuit of truth -, not as if the latter fort did not 
alfo contend for happiiiefs, but becaufe they 
find it in the ccntemplaiion of truth, and do not 
believe that happinels can exilt, without being 
founded on ihebafeof truth. The former clafs 
purfue happincu on different and oppofite roads, 
and when ihey fancy they have found it, embrace 
an airy phantom ; the latter clafs alfo go in pur- 
'tT^7^*v ■ fuit 

■rr.EiTY "^ 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 47 

fuit of Inith on difiereiit and oppoGtc roads, xnd 
when they fancy they have difcovered it, are 
enraptured at an ignlr fatuus. Some of them 
perceive at laft that they are deceived by illufi- 
ons, and others da not. The former continue 
their purfu'it by the road which they have once 
fallen in with, and finding nothing but new 
phantoms and new iUulions, fpread at length 
the rumour, that no real happinefs and truth 
coutd be met with here below. But fuppofe a 
man of an extraordinary genius, who ha^ been 
firmly convinced that this treafure can be found 
here below, fhould have attempted to go in . 
fearchof it through uncommon and never trod- 
den paths, and at length, after enormous devi- 
ations, which on the unbeaten paths he purfued 
could not be avoided, fhould have found truth 
snil liappinefs in their natural purity and fifletly 
union, and cntrufted the fecret to his friends 
under the eondiiion to communicate it only to 
a few, and not even to them till they fliould 
have been tried by uncommon delufions of dif- 
ferent kinds, likehimfelf; would you then for- 
give me, my Lord, if I had deceived yeu with 
that view ?" 

" Then I (hould not owe you Forglvenefs, but 
gratitude. But as the lime of probation (accord- 
ing to your own declaration) is paO, will you 
not be lo good as to let me fee only a few rayt 
of that Iij>ht, the full I'plendor of which I am 
going to behold." 

** I have orders not to difclofc tlie fecret (o 
jou before the liberation of your country ii all 
6e accomplilhed." 

'* Then my probationary time is not yet finifh- 
ed?" 

*• The time of delufion is pad, and you are 

now 10 begin the epocha of ailing for which tie 

, former 

c4v=.jnLTOOg[c 



48 THE VICTIM OF 

fonneT was dcfigncd to prepare you. Strain ere- 
ry nerve to deliver your country, and the la(t 
trial will be finiOicd." 

" How can I five my country ?" 

" At M * • ■ d you fliall be informed of it." 

" 1 am going to depart for that town to-mor- 
row morning." 

•* At * • • •, twelve miles from hence, you 
may flop for a fliort time— but mark well, only 
■for a fhort time. You will meet Amelia there — 

"Amelia ?" 

** And will find her differently difpofed horn 
what Clic would have been without my interfe- 
rence." 

** What do you mean by that f" 

" The Countcfs hat vowed to be faiihful unto 
death to the man of her heart. She has fre- 
quently renewed this rigorous row at the tomb 
which Jhe has devoted to his memory, and thus 
promifed to the dear deparicd objet!! of her love 
u facrifice, which has driven to dcfpair all thofe 
whom her uncommon charms have enchanted. 
Tou would hare Jliaied ilie fame face, my Lord, 
-if my power had not diffolved the dreadful co- 
venant which Amelia hat made with the departed 
fpirit of her Lord." 

I Hancd up like a maniac— '< TJ^ol ' you have 
dune ? Tou have done tliat i" 

The liilhman rofe coolly from his feat : " Mo- 
derate your joy," faid he, •* for you don't know 
whether I have not deceived the Countcfs I" 

" O forget what I have faid in the heat of 
pafllon. Beings like you arc above flander. For- 
give what 1 have laid !" 

" When you come to * • • * ftop at the inn 
of St. James, and then you fliall be convinced 
by my ^^ious that I have forgiven you." So 

,-. faying. 

' ■ ■ D5i,z=.JnLToaj5li 



MAGICAL DELUSrON. 49 

(ayihg, he Jhook handi with me aitd left mjr 
•putment. 

'* Who is that incomprehenlible mat) i" faid I 
to myfelf. **Il»ve I not been hi* mortal cite- - 
mj half an hour ago, and now am again become 
hii friend and admircTt am again enchained 
with fetters of which I fancied I had rid myfelf 
entirely ? Is my wcaknefs the fourcc of this un- 
accountable change, or is be in poflciEoa of a 
magic charm by which he rules with fecict powr 
er every heart I O thou who once flialt read this 
hiftory, whoever thou art, do not look fcomful- 
ly upon my relapfe. Thou haft not fcen the 
countenance of that man, haft not heard him 
fpeak : I have been Icfs enthralled by what he 
had faid, than by the manner in which he fpoke. 
The magic povret which his looks, his mien, his 
accent, and every geilure gave to hia words, ren- 
dered credible even what was improbable, and 
raifed the latter to certainty. While he was 
fpeaking I liule thought to interrupt him, dwel- 
ling with fecret pleafure upon the contemplation 
of thefeducingpidlures which he placed before 
DM, and only when iii cooler' blood, I began to 
anatomize and to fcan the train of his argu- 
ments, I difcovered icft£t», gaps^ and improBa- 
biliiies which (hook the very bafe of my belief, 
and overclouded the charming profpeus which 
he difplaycd before my enraptured eyes. How- 
ever, there wa* one idea en which I dwelled with 
joyful confidence. *' It will be accomplijhed (I 
exclaimed) although every other promife of the 
Irilhman Qiould prove airy phantoms, I ihall fee 
Amelia, and be happy I" 

But this hope too began to dwindle away, af- 
ter I had waited the next day at the inn to 
' which I bad been direfled by the Irifliman, from 
eight o'clock in the morning till feven o'cl9Ck at 

Vol. II. C night 



58 THE VICTIM OF 

night without having received tidings from Ame- 
lia. I was juft going to takr up my guitar in 
<»der to give vent to my melancholy fenfationsi 
when my fervant came to tell me that a girt 
wanted to fpcak to me. I ordered him to fliew 
her to my apartment. After many curtCes and 
circumlocutions, the unknown fair one begged 
me at length to have the kindncfs to honor her 
lady with a vilit. Alking her who her lady was* 
the replied that IbejluTft not tell mc her name, 
bat would fhcw mc the way to the callle. ' Then 
year lady has fent you to me ?' " God forbid ! (Ifac 
replied): my lady knows not a fyllable of my 
errand { and your Lordfliip mu(l tell the fervant 
to announce you by the name of the Marchcfc 
Albertini." •* Who was it then gave you that 
order i" *' An ofEcer in a blue uniform, (fhe 
replied) who hfs paid a vilit to my lady fome 
time ago. He told mc where I (hould iind your 
Lordfliip ; but, for heaven's fake, don't tell my 
ladyof it ; .for he has given me a louis d'or *o 
xonceai that circumflance from her !" Now I 
knc-w 'what to think -ol the matter. J could 
iiave kifled the little garrulous me&nger. ■ There, 
-talie ^ia (^aid I, emptying try purl£ in her 
apron} ihew me inllantly to the houfe of your 
lady I' The girl was enraptured with joy, hurried 
«lown flairs, «nd 1 ioUowed her with impatient 
Heps. -She flopped in the fecond ftrcet at a large 
pahcc, telling me that we were >on the fpot. I 
ordered the fervant to tell his lady, the Mar- 
chcfc Albertini would be glad to wait on her 
Ladyfliip, and was admitted. I haflened through 
the firft apartment with a panting heart, and toe 
fecond door being opened, was very kindly re- 
ceived by an old lady. J was almofl petrified 
by that unexpe£led fight, like a poor difappoint- 
«d wretch who, deceived by magic art, expcfta 



MAGICAL DCLVSIOH. 51 

to rufl] into the mat oF aM immoitil beauty, 
ftnMealycmbracn an ^Idtoothlefs beldam. The 
Jadjr feemcd 10 be equally filrprifed. I did noc 
know whether it was on aceoant of my peifon, 
or of my aftonifhment — and I begged her pardon 
in a faltaing accent, for having committed that 
mtllalce, telling her that I had taken the liberty 
to intrude upon her, in hopes of feeing the 
Countefg de Clairval, when^^— the door of a 
ihird apartment was opened, and a lady beauti- 
ful as an angel, drelTed in white fattin and of a 
Biajelttc form, made her appearance. I flew to 
meet her— and ^rcfied Amelufs band to my glow- 
ing lips. 

•' Her lovely cheeks were covered with s 
crimfon hue, and after a fliort interval of filent 
aftonifliment, flie exclaimed : <* Is it pofltble^ 
«ny Lord ! How does it happett that we have the 
honour of feeing yon here ?" 

" I don't know it myfelf !" I exclaimed, " my . 
life is an uninterrupted train of wonders, and it 
was certainly one of the molt fortunate that hat 
brought me to your Ladyfliip I" 

•• You find me in the company of a friend," 
Amelia fald> introducing me to the old )ady» 
** whom 1 had toft in my earlier youth, but found 
■gain four, months ago through a mofl Gngular 
accident, which I however think to be one of 
the moft fortunate of my life. You will recol- 
lefl that when I related to you the hillory of my 
youth, I mentioned a white lady who appeared 
to me in the dulk of evening, in a grotto in my 
father's garden, and who had dircSed and cheer. 
cd me in my juvenile years like a heavenly be- 
ing—' 

" And that white lady—" 

« Is the Baronef»deJbeIier,wboilBew ftaod- 
inff before you." ,. , 

* ' 'C » o,v.u,Goo3lf.-j, 



53 THE VICTIM OF 

. *< Is it |iofliUe ?V I exclaimed, 

•* T«, it is really fo I" replied the ladf archly 
fmiliBg. . 

I now began to exanune her &cc more atteiw 
tivdy. Her phyfiognomy was exceeding inte- 
rcfting, bearing ftrong roaike of fenlibility, and 
of former beauty, the traces of which the vera- 
dons tooth of time had not been able to des- 
troy. 

- « My Lady,'* faid 1, " the Coumefs lias te- 
latcd to me fo much that ii noble and wonderful 
of you, that my aflonifhment is as natural as 
fny cVriolity will be deemed pardonable by you." 

*• I dare fay," Amelia interrupted me, " it 
'iprill give you pleafure if I beg the Baroncfs to 
he fo kind as to explain that wonderful citcum- 
4taiue to yoa ?" 

"Why -not i" replied Lady Delier, "let us 
fit down } old age is thought to be talkative ; 
liowever I (hall be brief in my narrative : "A 
friend of mine who knew Amelia, and was no 
ftiaogcr to >the cruel treatment which flie receiv- 
ed &o(n her unnatural mother, lived in a houCe 
whidi was fcparated from that of her parents 
only by two gardena. The defcripiiou which 
my friend -gave me of the fufieringe of the in- 
nocent girl, aSeAed me &> much die more, as 
Z -ever have been uncommonly fond of children. 
I refolvcd to alleviate the Kaplefs fate of the 
foor child, and with that view deigned a plan, 
which I carried into execution, aiTill^d by tier 
nurfc, whom I bribed with fair words and a 
^um of money. The gardens of my friend and 
■Amelia's parents, were feparated only by a wall* 
which had a Uttte gate leading from the garden 
of the former to.thegroito which was in that 
of the latter. This gate was opened for me by 
the suifet who, according to my direfiion, al- 
ways 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 53 

XTip retired when t came, and watched at the 
entrance of the garden to varn me by a (ignat 
againil fudden furprife. I dare fa^, mf Lord, 
Amelia will have informed joa of mj comrerfa- 
tions and a£tioni in the grotto."— 

" But why did you conceal your name and 
rank from the Countefa ?" f enquired. 

" In order to prevent being found out, if the 
little gitl in her child ifh innocence Ibouldi 
have fpoken of her meetings with the white 
lady. When Amelia advanced' in years I contir 
nued the myCtery, becaufe I had obfecTed that it 
gave to my vifits an additional value in her cyeSt 
and rendered my confoUtions and inItru6tiona 
more cffe^TC- However, I did not mean ne- 
ver to difclofe my name to her, and I hid cn-> 
truded the folntion of the myftery to ttu fealeil 
paper which I gave to the daughter of my heart 
when I toolt leave of her,, and which- Ihc aftCC; ■ 
wards- h)(U" 

<■ If liam. not miCtakenj. you g»re the- fesledi 
paper to the Countefs, intb the iajunftion to- 
open it when Ibe Ifaould have found the man 
whom her heart. Ihouldcboore for a. i^anner in 
her happinefsand affliflion!"' 

« YoU'Sic notmiAaken! it contained .fome 
inftru£lions which are very ufeful to a girl who 
is in love.'-' ' 

"-You foretold the Ccnintefs whenyou took 
leave, of. heri that her unltappy f^te would 
take a fortunate turn after three montlu^ aad that 
gicdidlion has really been accomplilhcd by the 
aunt of the Countefs." 

"This was very lutural,. becanle the whole 
natter had been arranged already by the inter, 
ceflioa of my friend^, who was vctf intimate 
witkhcr aunt." 



54 THE VICTIM OF 

« Butwhj did you net continue your lifits tjii 
the arrival of her aunt i" 
. •< Becaufe I went abroad with the Baroo dc 
Delicr." 

•• And yoH have neter fcen the .Counted 
fince." 

•< Ko t and we fliould perhaps ncrer have 
net again, if important affairs had not called 
me to ••"• after the dcccafe of the Baron, I 
iaw the Countefs accidentally when I was coming 
from the cathedraL O 1" my Lord, what ar< 
all worldly pleafuies, if compaiet) to the happi> 
nefsof fuch a rc-union? The emotions of my 
'heart broke out fa violently, that we were oblig- 
ed to get, in the carriage, and to drive t(> 
Amelia's hermitage, to prevent puijieing crulb^ 
ed to death by the gaping multiiude." 

" Indeed," exclaimed the Caunie&j bedding 
teats of fenlJbility, and prefLng the hand of the 
Baroncfs to her bofom, <■ I Ihall never forga 
that day while this heart is beating i 

•* And yet, would you bcHeve k, my Lord," 
tefumed the Baronefs, after an afiefling paufc, 
" I could fcarcely prevail upon her to leave the 
cafltc in the forelt, and to remove to minCf 
where we are leading an happy and contented 
life. My Amelia was indeed turned a downright 
hermit." 

'* I confefs, my . .dear friend," replied the 
Countefs, ■'iwasfo charmed with my folitary 
fclidence, and the retired and quiet life I led 
fuited the Itate of my mind (o well, that no one 
but my dear Baroncfs could have peifuaded me 
10 change my fituation," 

The fleetiQg hoon pafled rapidly away amid 

' pleating ditcourfci) and evening was already 

far advanced before I could refolve to take 

leave of Amelia and her amiable companion. 

Ac 



MAGICAL DELUSION. si 

At length I paned reluftantlf, and having beea 
invited to repeat my vilit the day following, re- 
turned to my lodging in % trance of happtnefs 
and joy. 

Amelia was the fole obje^ of my thoughts 
before I fell aflccp ; Amelia's image fweetcned 
my reft ; her name wa« the firll found which 
came from my lips when I awoke, and in her 
prcfence I fpcnt the grcated pare of the day in^ 
3 trance of unfpeakablc biifs. 

Her cheerfulncfs declined, however, -with eve- 
ry new day -, her ferene looks began to grow 
gloomy ; her innate franknefs and lability gave 
room to referve and melancholy) which (be en- 
deavoured in vain to conceal. I furprifed her 
leveial times fixing her eyes on me in a melan- 
choly manner, and cafting down her looks with' 
coouemation when Ihe perceived that I obferrcd- 
it — 'ihe ipoke little, and what fhe faid was inco- 
herent—yet her behaviour was not repelling— 
her bofom feemed to conceal (ome fecrct unea- 
linefs, the caufe of which I (trove in vain to ex- . 

Siore. As often as I began to fpeak of the Ua- 
tK-wn, Amelia^ looked perplexed and timid at. 
I<ady Delier, who always turned the convcrfa- 
tion to a different objeA. I was certain that 
the Iriihman had been in thehoufe; they even ' 
confcflcd that he had. infon^d them of my ele- 
vation to the ducal dignity ; but this was ail- 
that I could learn. This ciTcumflance and Ame--, 
lia's behaviour gave rife to apprehetiGons which 
made me fufier the torments of hell. I could' 
iiot oidure this (ituation longer than four dvyi h 
at the evening of the fourth day. I togk advan- 
tage of an opportunity which 1 had to fpnk to ' 
I,ady Pellet in private, and prefled her to un- 
fold that mydery to me. After many fruitleCs 
perfuaKons, I obtained at length the promifc to 
C 4 ^ 



56 THE VICTIM OP 

be infomted of what I To anxioufljr wlihed to 
IcAow, and was requefted to meet her' at twelve 
o'clock the next day in the fir grove behind 
the garden of the calllc, when {he would &tisfy 
my curioGtf. 

I awaited the non-tide hour with impatience. 
At length the wilhed for hour arrived, and with 
the laft ftroke I was going to hallen to tlie fir 
grove, however I met the Irifliman on the Ilair- 
ca&, <' Come with me, mj Lord !" he faid» as 
Coon as he faw me ! 

" Whither I" 

" Ton wil) be furprifed in a mod pleafing 
manner. Make bafte, my^carriage it waiting 
for you." 

, "1 cannot accept your invitation before one 
o'clock. I mult finiOi firft a buGnefs of 
great importance, which cannot be poflpon- 
cd.'* 

** My bufinefs alfo cannot be podponed) 
and ii of far greater importance, t am go- 
ing to lake you to an old acquaintance 
whom you have ardently wiOicd to fee tlu; good 
while." 

** An old acquaintance — whom I have ardent- 
ly wiflied to fee ? — it ia not — " 

" Your tutor I mean. Come, make halW 1" 

I embraced the IriOiman with a loud acclama- 
tion of joyi prcfied him vehemently to my bean, 
and leaped into the caniage. 

We drove through the city gate i our horfcft 
galloped at a funoai late, and yet they were 
too flow for my impatience. "Is he far from 
hence?" I exclaimed, *' where docs he live, is 
he wel), does he know that 1 am coming i" 
" AH that you fliall know prefcntly \" faid the 
IriOiman, ordering the coachman to ftop. 

W«. 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 57 

We got out of the carriage, and the fun wft 
overclouding like the face of the Irifhman. He 
uttered not a word, and made a fileiit &gjaaX tO' 
follow him. 

The pUce where we were was a loaelr foli- 
tary fpot in the fuburbs. The Irilhman flopped - 
at a high \rall over which the tops of tall 
trees were protending. My condu>^Qr looked ' 
at me with a melancholf air, and then beat with 
his iill agaiiift a large gate. Th? folding doors 
burft open with a dreadful noif^r and I beheld a ' 
burying place before me. The^riOimait entei> 
ed. " What' bufincfs have -wc hcr^ ?'■' 1 eidaim- 
cd in a faltering accents "Come along, and be ' 
a man !" fo faying, be pulled a\c after him, jind ' 
the door was (hut again by an invifiblc han^. 

The Itfllnefs of sKmal reft, and the hom^ ' 
of corraption which were hovering around me, 
whifpered < audibly in my- car that this was not 
aretidence ftt for living beings.' " is my tutor 
here i" I enqtfiied afi^ a dreadful paufe. The 
Itiihmanregiainedfilent; "- Hicrmanfor,' iitaj: 
tutof hi^e ?'-' 

" He is." 

" Atas I then he is dead I** I ftammR;ed» 
daggering againltaxomb-ftone'to fupport my- 
fclf. 

The face of th^ I^flinian began to brighten 
up; he topVine by the hand: ** Come, my 
Lord, and convince youifclf, that even on this 
fpot, where common men behold nothing but 
death and corruption, the flower of . life is 
bloomiiig !", With (hefc words, he led me 
round the corner of a fmltll chapel, . and I he- 
hcld wh^t at hrll appeared to me the dclalion 
of a dream, my tutor Handing five ' paces dif> 
(ant from m« npon 3 tomb ; he was drefied in 
a wtutc garmcnt| and feemed to awut me in 
C s trancjtul 



SS THE VICTIM O F 

tranquil expeAation : "Antonio I my friend !*' 
I exclaimed quirerin;; with joy, and flew with 
expanded -annt to the tomb, but Ibuddered 
with horror when I graCped through an airy 
phantom inftead of tmbndag my friend.*' 

**Don*t be afraid, Miguel t" »id the ediereal 
being, without opening his lips, or makinj; 
the leaft. motion, *' I am no appariliiHi from 
the oths world. I am yet living { however^ 
the more folid parts of my body are above 600 
miles dillant< My fpirtt has afiumed this form 
in order to commucicate her ideas to thee* 
Thoa wilt at fome future period comprehend' 
this mrftery if thou dod follow the dire^ions o£ 
Hiennanfor. Young man, there exifts a feli- 
city upon earth more fublime thau the lore of 
women. Leave Amelia and haden to Ma***d. 
Endeavour to break the abominabi* fetters 
whereby thy country is chained to the throne ot 
t defpot. Down into the duft with Vafcon""llo»». 
who has forged thefe ch»ns> and increafeg theic 
weight every day. Thoii {halt ^ec me again 
when thy country is rellored to libcny, and I wilt 
lead Amelia to thy aims. 'Till then, Miguel-^ 
farewell 1" 

The viGon was not difiblVcd"^ nor did' it ffnit 
into the ground nor rife aloft, and yet it W3» 
removed m the twinkling of an eye. << An- 
tonio, my friend I" lexelaimed, **if thy fpirit r» 
ftill hovering around me, tell me whether Z 
may confide oUndly in Hiermanfor ?" 

The vifion re-appeared on the tomb as quick 
3^ thought. " FoHow the advice of Hiermanfor,"" 
he faid, . " he will fupply my place. I have 
miftaken him like thyfelf ; however thou fhalt 
know him too as he is known to me } and then 
wc fliall be united by ftronger ttet." 

The 



MAGICAL DELUSION 59 

The Tifion dtfappcared, and I heard the tin' 
tntvfii calling to me from the other iide of the 
chapel. 

I felt like one vho is fuddcnljr roufed from a 
dream, and looked around me with uncertain, 
examining eyes, fenrching for the Irifbman. Ho' 
perceived it and came towards me. 

lite fudden change i^ the moft oppofite fen- 
fa^ons, particularly the laft fcene, had afie£led' 
me Tcry much,^ and t' fat myfelf dAwn upon a 
tomb. " Is it not true, Hiermanfor?" faid I 
after a long nience, " I hare dreamed ?" 

*■ Direamed P" he replied with aHonifhment, 
•• and TVMf have yon dreamed ?" ' 

■■ Methought my- tutor-was Handing upon this 
tomb, and talking Itrange things." 

*• I have had the fame vificn.^ 

*' Hiermanfor ! don't fport with my under- 
ftanding." 

*' Ic is as I have faid.**' 

" It cannot be 1" I exclaimed vehemently, 
** it was an illulion. Don't-think that I am ftill 
as crudulout as I have been. Confefs only thar 
the vifion was a new- illuGon, whereby you wanted - 
to try me." 

*' An illufion requires the afliftanceof ma- 
diines; and I give you' leave, nay, I'bcfeech 
you to fearch for them. Tou ' may ranfack the 
whole burying ground, bat your labour will be 
toft." 

" That may be I It has perhaps been one of 
your fined aninces, but neverthelefs it was mere 
delufion." 

" It was d^Gon, becaufc. you will haveit 
fo." 

" Hiermanfor I what do you wifb' tne to be* 
Unci" 

*l What- 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



Co THE VICTIAI OV 

*' Whatever ysu cm beljeTC." 
" Here the figure' of mf tutor wu ftandiitf, 
and there I flood and converred with him." 

** Tou may have been <lrearoiDg, itwasper- 
haps one of my finelV artigces." 
•« "What can you fay againd it ?" 
*' Nothing, my Lord, nothing I" 
*■ I conjure jou, w4at can yoti faj uainfl 
it?* 

■' On one part I could find it improbable that 
two people fliould have the fame dictm white 
they are awake j on the other, that the rnoft coi»- 
fununate juggler would find it difficult tft pro- 
duce by day light, and on an open fpoti an airf 
vifion whidi refemblei your friend exadUv, taik& 
in a fenCbte manner, anfweis qucftions which ate 
put to It, and appears a fecond time at your de- 
ftre.» 

" True, very true I hpweyer, the apparitioa 
is not lefs myftcriout to me if 1 deem it m illu- 
fion." 

^' Tou will comprehend it one time*" tuA 
Antonio. 

" But when ? I am dying with a deCre to have 
the myftery uBfolded." 

« May I fpcalt without referve, my Lord." ' 
« 1 w^fh you always bad Ifoltm withoiM dit 
|Uife, and acted f^ienly.'* 

« What I am goiuj to fay may perhaps oficnd 
you ; yet I muft beg yon to give me leave to 
{peak freely. I am not s<>ing to addrefs Mignel, 
but the Duke." 

<■ Franknefs and truth are equally acceptable 
te the latter as they are to the former ; fpeak with- 
out referve," 

'■ Itissot fondnefs of truth, but vain cu^o< 

fity that hag driven you upon the danierout tcean of 

kncvledge, where you are ctuiCng about whhouc 

either 



MAGICAL DEL0S1OX. 6i 

either rudder or compals, in fearch of unlcnown 
countries! and enchanted iflands I met you 
fome time fince on your voyage, and captured 
you. You couM at well have fallen in with fomc- 
body clfe, vho would have forged heavier fetter* 
for you. I have net mifufed my power over you. 
You have indeed worked in the fetters which I 
have chained yon with, But not in my fervicCf 
iiot for me, but for your country,, which you, I 
am foiry to fay, would never have done volun^ 
tarily- Tou nave attempted nothing, at leaft 
very Uttlc, to fawali thofe chains, but you ftrug- 
gled hard to avoid ferving your country. 1 en- 
deavoured to keep you in its fervice by (Ircng- 
thening your chains ; however, unforefeen acci> 
dents Oberated you from your bondage, and then 
I appeared firft to you a lawlefs oorfair, who had 

* made- an unlawful prize of you» although you t»ul 
fuppofed me, before that time, to be a fuperna- 
tural being, to whole power you fancied you had 
tirrendcred voluntarily. My dear Duke, I am 
neither a villain, nor am;I a fupernatural being i 
however^ you are not able to judge of me.. It is 
true that I poflcfs important arcana, by the appli- 
cation of which I can cffeft wonderful things ; 
but I am not allowed to make lUe of them be- 
fore I have tried iq vain every common, means of 
gaining ray aim. According to my knowledge 
of your Lordfiiip, the artifices of natural magic 

' were fufficient for carrying my point ^ but now^ 
as the veil i* taken from your eyes, and thofe de- 
lulions by which your will has been guided, have 
IqH their influence upon you, now 1 could make 
ufe of my fupcfior power, by- which I have been 
enabled to effeA the apparition of your tutor. 
However, you)udge of my deeds equally wrong 
as of myfclf. At firft you miftook real delurions, 
for raintclest tad now you miflake the cITcA of a 
'great 



6t the victim of 

great and important arcanum, for dctuGon; 
whence thcfc luddm leaps from one extreme to' 
the other? What U it that conllaml^rcmovci 
from four eyes the real point of view from which 
you ought to fee things ? TTie fource of this evil* 
IS within yourfeU j I wil) point it out to you* left 
you difcoverit tooiate. You hare an innate pro* 
penfity, which has been nurfcd up by your lively 
imagination, a propenGtv which is agitating pow 
'erfully within you, and ftruggleg for gratification, 
the piopenfity to the wonderful. Tour tutor 
ftrove too late to combat it by the dry fpeculations 
of philofophy, inftead. of gaiding and con6ning 
it in proper bonndst. My God Tyour friend is- 
an excellent manj irfio had your real happinefs- 
at heart ; however^ his philofophy was not alto— 
gether conliftent^ . A preconceived contempt of 
all occult fciences prevented him examining them"^ 
with impartiality, and- dedaring all events con- - 
trary to the common eourfe of~^natirre, to be chc - 
cfie£lsof impolition.. He committed a Gn againft' 
philofophy, promifrng as demon Ibratcd, what was ' 
to be proved. Your own feeling, my Lordj, 
made you feoGbleof die defe^lSandex^gerati- 
Oiu of bis ai^uments ; your rcxfon was not fuffi-^ 
cientto reflify, orto refute (hem ; and thus you. 
hare adopted the principles of your tutor, not 
from conviilion, but from a blind confidence ia 
his learning and honefty, and believing the affcr- ■ 
tions of your inftrudor, you believed m his phi- - 
lofcpht. 

« gicnnanfor! Ithinlfyouaretight." 
« Give me leave to proceed.' Ttwasconfe- 
quently not. philofophical conviction that tnad< 
<m fufpcA your inclination to the wonderful } . 
jut faith was oppofcd to faith. The former was 
founded on the authority of your tutor, and' the 
UttfTonUte fecrct T(acc»f yourhea^.;,,]Regard 
fo» 



bui 



MAGICAL DELUSION. €% 

for youT friend, and the ambition of being looked 
upon as a pbUofopher, impelled you to>3dopt the 
principles of your tutor, and an innate inftinA 
fpuiTcd you to yield tO' the voice of your hearty 
and thus you embraced by turns, the opinion of 
your inftniilor and the faith which originated 
from your heart, according to the flrength of 
motive which prevailedi en- either 0de. How- 
ever, thefe motTves wore never pure undoubted 
arguments' of reafony. but mere fentiments, which 
made yoU' (faift from one Bde to'the other, in the 
feme meafuie im which yoarfentiments of one 
or the other Kind KceircdfiioBrilhment or additi* 
enal ftrength.firem< without.. As foon at I began 
to play olPmymagica) machineries your belief in 
miracles began' to prevail i but as foon as your 
tutor recapitulated' his le^tUrcs^ philofophy re- 
fumed- hen former fway. You was aball which 
flew altcr'natelyinhis and in my hands, becanfe 

Siu wanCad firm coovtAios to Sxyouifclf upon, 
everthelcfe I (hould^ have fuccecded at laft in 
getting an- czcluGve- power over-- you merely by- 
means of mydelulionS) bccaufe your predile£li< 
on for. the wonderful, and yonr imagination,, 
which found an exouCe and a gratification in my 
works, would hare prevailed over the philofophi* 
cal femences which you have been taught. Fi- 
' lelki difcovered to you what you ought to hare 
difcovered yourfelf, that my arts were mere de- 
lufions, and now you conclude that I can pro- 
duce nothing but delulions. Perhaps you go 
ftill farther, and deny even die polTibility of ap- 
paritions, becaufe I-nave raifed in Amelia's houfe 
a ghoft who was none. At bottom you keep 
firm to your character j you came over to my 
party bccaufe your/«A>g/'found their aceount in 
doing (o i yoa find you have been deceived, and 
you fly back again ^to the oppoCte party becauf' 



e4 ' THE VICTIM OF 

]rou/(/i«;)i to find truth there. However you ^re 
really guided only by a blind inftinfl, by fenii- 
ment ami opinion. Atod with thtfe gu ides do 
yoa fancy you gan penetrate to the-fanfluary of 
truth and happtnefs ?>- Unhappy young man t' 
you are doomedio> decciTc yourrqtf and te be de- 
ceived." 

After a (hOTt paufe the Irifliman r efvtmed : 

'f Pardon my franknefs» -my LoidJ T. haw 
done," 

« You have made me behold myfclf in a view - 
to which] was an utter firangcr, and which ter- 
rifies mc>. Hiirrmanfor, tell it me frankly, if 
you have t» add anything -farther i the more un— 
refervod you Ikall be, thu more my gratitude wHI I 
encrcafc' 

"Yes, ray Lord, you- dcfenre a bettcrfalte -• 
than what you ai^ preparing for yoiirfelf. Yqu . 
polfefi a noble quality which is but rarely the pro- 
perty of Princest the courage of liClening to cUf<' 
agreeable truths ; a noble heart ispanting in your ' 
bpfom i yoit ppflefs mors defire for knowledge - 
than you ought; your intention is good, howe- - 
ver, you will be ruined in fpite of alj thefe noble - 
qualities. You are deAituie of' finnnefs ofi 
. mind ; you fiu£):uate like a wave of' - the- Tea, , 
which IS driven and tolftd to and ita with the - 
wind. You are doomed to be conftantly the ■ 
fpprt of others, and never to fteer your own - 
courfe..- That unfhaken hrnuiefs of r^folution 
which is the eSeA of well founded convi£tion i* - 
not in the catalogue of your virtues. Tour rca- 
fon prevails tpo little on your fenfuality and ima- 
gination> which arc; hurrying you rapidly along 
through bye ways. Nay, I -even maintain that 
your rage for occult knowledge ha« hadsa yet no 
other fource but fenfual pleafure ; it gratified 
ydur ambition to know motz than other people i 



MAGICAL DELUSION^. tf$ 

1t flittered jrour felf-lo?e ' to have the powers of 
nature at your coinniand ; it was a pleafing (>ghc 
to your eyes to wimefs extraordinary events, as 
children delight to hear tales of j^innts and en- 
chanted call les. And could yuu, in thit dlfpofi- 
lionof mind, think your fdf worthy to be intro- 
duced to a Un£k\iirf, which even ferious difince- 
reftcd love of truth dares not enter without be- 
ing firlt purified. You have experienced what 
you did deferve, you merited to be put off with 
my&ic words, with juggling tricks and flights of 
hand i and you was fatisScd with thefe gcwgavrs* 
Firil after the veil had been removed from your 
eyes by other people, you was highly difpleafed 
at oiy Having taken the liberty to fell you delufions 
for truth — tor truth I as if ever purr love f.r 
lruth\aA guided you, and what you mil took for 
it Iiad been any thing elfe but va'm curkjtt^. Not- 
withltandihg this, I have given you a fpecinien 
of tny fuperior powers and {howu you the gholt 
of your living friend, who is many hundred 
miles dillaat from hence, and you prove inflant- 
ly how little you deferve tbia condefcenGoiu 
Tou find not the leift difference between this vi- 
fionand the former juggling tricks, milti^ing it 
for a dream, for a new delufion. Toung man, 
learn firft to difcetn trutli from illulioa, and ac- 
quire a proper knowledge f£ the preparatory fcir 
cnces, before you attempt at occult wifdom ; 
get firll a proper knowledge of youf fdf, before 
you ftrive for knowledge 'of occult things ; en- 
deavour to bridle your imagination by cool re- 
flcflioa, and your fenfuality by felf-dcnial, be. 
fore you dare to grafp at the fway over the powers 
of nature." 

■• How infignificant do I appear to myTclfk 
liiermanfor ! don't fparc me, and let me feel 
my whole notbingncft.." 

«• Man 



<8- THE VICTIM OF 

** Man has gained a great advantage, if he 
has learnt to be fcnfiblc of his weakneb, howe- 
cvtr he ought alfo to remain no ftranger to hi« 
ftrength. ■ My Lord, we are endowed with » 
heavenly gift, which is called rea/cn ,• but how 
widely does it differ from what one commonly 
thinks it to be I rcafon ought (irft to be purified^ 
and iKTcfted of every thing that is not hcrfelf. 
before (he can become to us an infallible guide^ 
Ainilcd by her we fubdue our fenfuality, and 
foar above vifiblc nature. Senfuality is the only- 
thing terreftrial in us : reafon raifes us to the 
communication with fnpcrior fpirtis. The mora 
we learn to fubdue thc' former, the more fway 
do we obtain over the powers of nature i the 
more we purify the latter, thc more intimately 
are we connefled with' fuperior beings. Man< 
is an intermediate being between an angel and' 
an animal ; is thc fole creature that, by mean*, 
of hisfcnfcb, is connc£led with the phyficat' 
world, an^ through his reafon with higher |pi- . 
liis, tnd cenfequently «an- aft upon both, uo- 
you divine nothing, my Lord ? Thele wotdt- 
imply an important truth t however it would ^ 
lead me too far, i£ 1 (hould attemjit to unfoldi 
it at large." 

" O let me tafte only a few drops- from thaf 
fiicred foontaia I" 

. " &t fomc other time,, my Lord 1 important 
al&irs bid me at prefent to leave you. Will 
you accompany me to town i" 

" With plcafute." 

His coach bad< been waiting for u» at fome 
didance from the burying place. — ^The Irifhman. 
ordered his coachman to make halte, and told- 
me on the road that I. mult depart for Ma"**I 
in two days. At the fame time he promifed 
to ntcetme the following nightat eleven o'clock^ 
and. 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 67 

and to continue the Aibjefl on which he bad 
been fpealcing. He fct me down at nijr houfe 
and took leave. 

The time which Ladjr Delier had fixed for our 
interview was paft. This would have been 
eicremely painful to mc in any other fituation 
of mind, but now tbj thoughts were employed 
by objedts of greater imponance. What I had 
feen and heard at the burial place had made a 
deep imprclBon upon me. The more I reflecled 
on the vifion, the more did it furpafs my power 
of conception. Deception is afraid of the light, 
recking the dulk of evening, or the darknefs of 
- night, in order to blind the eyes of the deluded 
pmon i deception plays off its machineries in 
places which are (hut up, and pTeviouOy have 
been fitted for the purpofe ; at the fame lime, 
it endeavours to harrow the mind, by foiemn 
preparations, in a difpofician anfwerable to the 
deception ; but here I could not perceive any 
"tiling of that kind. The vilion appeared at noon^ 
and in an open place, and when the Iriflimait 
called me away to the burial place, 1 was going 
to inform myfcif of a love af^ir, and of courfe, 
in a difpofition very unpropitious for apparitions 
or ghoiis i deception takes care to prevent the 
beholder from coming near its works, and I 
was near enough to touch the phantom ; decep- 
tion never eipofes its fecret machines to the 
danger of being difcovcred, and the IriChmaa 
invited^ me to make the Itrifteft invelUgation. 
And the vifion ttfelf, as it appeared, a living 
human figure, and yet fo incorporeal, that my 
arms penetrated it without leaving a vellige be- 
hind — the rcfemblancc to Antonio fo great^ 
that it fecmed to be the living original ; and 
this figure fpoke and returned anfweis fo ade- 
quate to my quelUoos; — it did not, indeed* 



68 THE VICTIM OF 

moTeitslifSt and the voice dii^rcd alitilefroin 
that of Antonio ; however, its fpeaking organs 
were matcriallr different from his natural ones> 
At laft, the difappearing and Tc-appeaHng at taj 
defire — did it not denote a free will of the vifi- 
oQ ?— In ffiort, the longer I rcflefled on tha 
matter, the lef) did it appear to me the work of 
deception. 

" And if it were no fiftion, what Have feen j 
what an adoniOiing tnyllcry does it imply I 
How is it po&ible for a living, abfent man ta 
appear to his friend, as the deceafed arc reported 
to do ? How can his foul difembody berfelf for 
alhort time, and inclofe hcrfdf in an imitated 
Ihape > The Irilhmau baa, indeed, given me a. 
. hint concerning the polTibility of fuch miracles-;^ 
but how unfit was I to comprehend that dtllanc 
hmt, and how much did my foul thirfl for the 
pTomifed continuation of his difcourfc ? He is in 
the righti I did noti as yet, deferve to-be- in»- 
itrufted in the myfleries of occult luiowlcdge ; 
1 merited to be put off with vain deluGoa&. 
How tittle did my impetuous cufiofity agree 
with a difciple of occult Itnowledge ;. how inlig- 
niticant mull I have appeared to himi How 
great did he Hiew himfell to me ! With what an> 
alU>niihing ommfcience did he read my moil 
hidden thoughts ; witii what a great lagaciiy ba^- 
be laid open ray weakncfs, and with hour much, 
franknefs told me my defers 1 If it were hifr, 
intention to deceive me aa^ farther^ he would 
fiiently hue uken advantage of my blind fide,, 
and carefully avoided to open my ^cs. He 
certainly could not have given mc ar more unfut 
picious and convincing proof of the goodne£i 
and purity of his fcntlments towards mc. — This 
opcnncfs, this noble fincerity, deferves, ud-- 
doubtedl];! my unboutided gratitude. Yes, ^n- 



MAGICAL DELUSION. €9 

Henio, hejball guiJe me in thy ream t I foill teijije 
in him as I have lo^did in thee.* 

*' In the evening I went to Amelia, to inform 
Iier of my impendinj; dcpartBre. She was juft 
playing on the harpGchord, and reccii^ed me 
with a filent fmile, without rujRring herfelf to 
be interrupted in her play. The Baronefs, howe- 
ver, received me with cold civility ; I could gucfs 
the reafon of it ; however I had no opponunity 
to make an exCufe. Ilie afFe^ing pieces, which 
Amelia played with an unfpealcabte charm, b6- 
gan to melt my foul, and to thrill me with a 
fwcet melancholy. But fuddeiily the recollec- 
tion of the Jfifliman, of my refolution, and of 
my departure fiufhed through my head : I left 
iny dangerous poft, and Amelia ceafed playing. 
I had placed myfelf at the open window— (he 
followed me thither. 

" So immerfed in meditation, my Lord f" 

<* I am thinking of my departure." 

*• Too arc not going to leave us i" 

« I muft depart tSe day after to-morrow. 
Bufinefs of great importance requires my per- 
fonal attendance at Ma«*"t." 

This news produced furprife and filence. 
-The coldnefs of Lady Delier began to thaw. 
•• I hope jovr bulinefs, my Lord," faid Ihe, 
«« is not fo very prefling." 

<> Alas I" it is fo prefling that it fuffers not 
'the leatl delay." 

"Aias!" Amelia repeated, "one (hould 
think your departure was painful to your 
heart !" She blulhed, aa if flie had faid fome- 
thing imprudent. 

" Alas ! it ia too painful to my heart ; but 
»ho cares for my heart ?" 

" Indeed," Lady Delier replied, *'you think 
Tcryuokindof uj." 

ctv.-.ii,Googlc 



7e THE VICTIM OF 

*' It la 3 gloomy night," (aid Amelia^ goin^ 
to the window ; and the thread of our convnr- 
fation wat cut off at once. I cndeaTOurcd to 
lead it again to iti former channel i however I 
perceived that the converfation grew irkfome and 
dull i it turned on a hundred mod infignificant 
triflesj but the Countcfs avoided carefully to 
touch (he former Aring, although I founded it 
repeatedly, foftcr or louder. At length I took 
leave. Lady Dclier was fo kind as to fee me 
down Hairs} I told her that an important vifit 
from the Irilhman, whom I had endeavoured in 
vain to put off* had prevented me from keeping 
the appointment. She took my cxcufe very 
kindly, and made me promife to meet her the 
next morning at ten o'clock at the fir grove. 

Uneafincfs and curiofity drove me thither 
at the appointed hour. The Baronefs was wait- 
ing for me. «The Ceuntcfs is at church/* 
faid (he, " let me take advantage of her (hort 
abfence, and commit a liitle treachery ; but 
take heed not to betray me to my friend 1" 

*< Certainly not," I replied, my curiofity be- 
ing harrowed up to the highell degree by this 
exordium. 

" All that I have to difclofc to you is con- 
tained in two wotdi: you are belovedf my 
Lord I" 

•' My Lady !"— 

*< Give me leave to relate the matter in a 
proper manner." The Baronefs, feemingly de- 
lighted with my aftoniihment, and continued) 
'* recollect your firft interview with the Coun- 
tcfs ; you have not been iitdiffcrent to her al- 
ready, at the time when Ihe accepted the ring 
which vou offered her; however, the good 
Countels did not know it then heirfelf. She 
fancied her fentiments to "bz merely the efieOs 
of 



MAGICAL DELirSION. 71 

of the gratitude which (be imagioed (he owed 
yoUf bccaufc you hiTc been the primaiy caufe 
of die long wiOied for appaTiiion of her de- 
ceafcd Lord. However, that apparition which 
declared you, afterwards, the fon of the mur- 
derer, made thereby Amelia think it her duty 
to reftrain her kindnefs for you. The difficulty 
which (he had to fubmit to the Toice of duty, 
told her plainly, that in her heart fomething 
more than gratitude was panting for you. For- 
tunately, the ghod himfelf had defired her to 
forgive the murderer; (he imagined, therefore, 
it would be butjuft to extend the forgivenefs to 
the fon. She did not forefee that her lender- 
nefs for you, covered by that pretext, would 
find To much the lefs difficulty to Ileal again into 
the heart from which it fcarccly had been expell- 
ed. Not before Amefia's tendemefs for you rofe 
to a degree, which left no room for doubt of 
her attachment for you, did (he perceive that 
her readincfs to be reconciled to you, originated 
lefs from the requelt of the gholl, than frotn 
that of her own heart. Ypu may believe me, 
my Lord, that it was no cafy matter to draw 
thefe particulars from Amelia's lips. She con- 
cealed carefully in her bofom a paflion, the ex- 
iftcnce of which (he trembled to cdnfefs. She 
had made a vow of eternal fidelity to her late 
Lord, and although (lie fancied (he had not vio- 
lated her promife by iitvolutitary fentiments, yet 
a confellion of thefe fentiments, though depo- 
fited only in the bofom of an intimate friend, 
appeared to her 9 profanation of her folemn de- 
claration. However, hci fpcaktog frequently 
of you with evident marks of partiality, made 
ne, ncTertfaeiefs, fufpcdt a part of the fccret 
which the IrtChman's viGt foon unfolded entirely 
to me. 



94 THE VICTIM OF 

" Tou know that be has been in our I10B& 
fometime ago, informing us of your exaltation 
TO the ducal dtgctcy, and at the fame time, 
placed the declaration of the ghoft, concerning 
.the murder, in iti proper point of view. How- 
ever, you are Rill Ignorant of the mod important 
circumftance. I will not dwell on fhe uncom- 
mon praife he bellowed on your family, antl 
you in particular, but only mention that he con- 
cluded hi* panegyrics with the obfcrvation, that 
the Countefs herfelf would deem you deferving 
her lore, if (he Ihould be acquainted more in- 
timately with your Grace. This uncxpe^ed 
turn perplexed Amelia evidently. She replied, 
(he did not doubt the amiable qualities of the 
Duke, however (he had vowed eternal fidelity, to 
the Count. " If that is your folc objcdion," 
the Irifliman replied, *' then I (hall foon re- 
move it. The deceafed himfelf Ihallreleafe you 
from your vow, from the performance of which 
he can derive neither beneiit nor pleafure ; it is 
in my power to make him declare it himfelf." 
•* No, no," exclaimed Amelia, terrified,, *' the 
reft of the deceafcd Ihall not be interrupted ; I 
(hould not be able to ftand the fight of him." 
•* No apparition, my Lady," the liiOiman re- 
plied, '< you (hall neither hear or fee the de- 
ceafed !"— With ihefe words he took a blank 
- piece of paper out of his pocket-book, requcft- 
ing Amelia to write upon it the following words : 
— «* .Spirit of the Count of Clairval, Ihall I pre- 
ferrc my heart and hand faithful to thee till 
death, according to my vow ?" As foon as the 
Countefs had been petluadcd to it with great 
difliculiy, and wrote thefe words, the Irifhman 
prevailed upon her to carry the paper to an a- 
partment to which no one could have accefs 
without her knowledge and leave. Amelia chofe 
the 



MAGICAL DELUSION. ^j 

ttic apanment contiguous to her bed-chamber. 
The (hutters were bolted from within, the pa- 
per placed upon a table, and the room Itrongljr 
fumigated bj the Irilhman, who uttered Tome 
m^fterious words. When they had retired, the 
Infhman requeued her to return and look after 
the paper; however fhe could ise nothing ex- 
cept the words written by hcrfclf, upon which 
fhe fliut the door, and put the key in her poc- 
ket. 

" Steep eafy," the Irifliman added, and 
don't open the chamber before to-morrow mom' 
ing, wbeA you will find an anfwer to your quef- 

•' The Irilhmaa left us at eleven o'clock^ and 
Amelia went to her bed-room, which (he left 
not for a moment all the night. — She went 
to bed, but uneafinefs and eurioGty did not fuf- 
fer her to clofe her eyes. Not the lea It noife 
was heard in the adjoining apartment, and when 
Amelia eatcred it early in the mornings Ihc ob- 
ferircd beneath the lines flie had wrote, pale but 
legible characters, which ihe intlantly knew td 
be the hand-writing of her deceafed Lord 
" Thy vow, which binds me to a being living 
upon earth, and thee to one who is deceafed^ 
Ihackles my liberty. I break thefe chains. 
The man by whofe orders I have been aflaffi- 
cated is Vafco**eUos." 

" imagine how Amelia was adonithed at 
an incident which'evidently was the cfTei^ of a 
fuperior power } the apartment, the fiiuttersi 
and the door of which had been carefully fe> 
cured, and which was guarded by Amelia het* 
lelf, being entirely inacceOiblc to any mortal, 
except by violent means, of which no traces 
could be perceived on the window (hutteis. 

Vol. II. D . Tbi» 

ctv.-.ii,Googlc 



74 THE VICTIM OF 

This miraculous event was decifire for my friend, 
who profdTed herfelf caXtTclj at liberty from that 
moment. 

" Tour Grace mil caGly believe me, that 
the tender attachment to you, which had fo^nd 
accefs to her heartt guarded by a folema vow, 
acquired additional a^ivity when the fliackies 
were thrown off. The gboft himfclf appeared 
to have filently approvedf by naming the jeal 
murderer, the j)anion for a f rince, whofe lather 
had been injured by. an .unjuft fufpicion. Ame- 
lia endeavoured, nevcrthciefs, to conceal from 
me the real ftate of her heart, and, o\it of ca- 
price, rather would leave me Co gueft, than to 
confefs herfelf what might have been mifiater- 
prcted as a wealcnefs. However, that very con- 
jlraint jwhich Ihe experienced by , concealing a 
fccret that struggled to break hii confinementi 
fome word« which .were, dropped unknowin^gly, 
her gloomy loojcs and :fitent melancholy— —m 
Aort, all thofe traits which fecm to have told 
you (o very little of Amelia's fwrct fentiments, 
convinocd me ^foon that love^was the filent tor> 
mentor of her heart. I communicated my dif- 
coyery to her, and Ihe confefled at lafl that 1 
w^ not jniltaken;" 

" Gracious Heaven !" I exclaimed, " (he con- 
feffed-^' 

<• And at the fame time defired mc earneflly 
to conceal it carefully from yOu ; and do you know 
for what reafon i" 

"No.l", 

" Amelia feared flie was not beloved by you. 
Your having proceeded on your travels during 
her ilinefs without fo much as taking leave of 
her, made her already fufpe£l your indifference. 
This fufpicion gained additional Itrcngth by your 
never having wrote a fingle line to her after your 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 75 

departure. Your behariour during vour pre- 
fcDt ftay wkh us too, hai cured her of that er- 
m as little as the information of your depar- 

" Shonid it be poffibleMny lore could have ef- 
raped AmcKa's looks f 

" It did not efcape my obferration. -I 

gathered carefully aH the marks of it, and com- 
, municated them to my friend. However, they 
appeared to her to be nothing fanher than proon 
of gallantry which every well-educated man is 
wont to oikt at the (hrine <of beauty. •' Is it 
poffible," Ihe, faid, " that true, ardent love, 
cAuld refrain {o long from coming to an expla- 
nation i" And indeed, my Lord, can you fay 
any thing agaUift this objeuion !" 

* My Lady, I could not entertain the Icaft 
idea of fuch an explanation, while the mifun- 
derftanding concerning the murderer of Count 
Clurval was not removed, although I had not 
been ignorant of the relidence of Amelia, 
which was unknown to me ever £ncc the rc- 
stoval from the caflle in the foreft, and the myf- 
terious conduQ of the Countcfa has prevented 
me from declaring now what 1 ardcnlly wilhed 
to avow publicly ever fince I got acquainted 
with her. What fcai made you guefs my hap- 
pinefs, has induced rtu to apprehend my misfor- 
tune 1 even feared to o9end the Countefs by 

my prcfencc. I expelled fecrct difllkc to me, 
at molt pity, but never a return of my love." 

'• I fee you are but a novice in love," Lady 
Delier faid fmUing, <• and I have of courle 
a£led wifely tuat 1 opened your eyes 1*^ 

" O 1 my deareft Baronefs 1" I replied, kiff- 
ing her hand, '• my gratitude will end only with 
mylife." 

Di "Silence!, 



^6 THE VICTIM OF 

« Silence ! Silence I" flie exclaimed, putting 
her hand on my tips, I have told you, as yet^ only 
good news — ihc worll is coming; now !" 

"What can that be ?" 1 atked with conllerna- 
tion. 

" You (hall hear Amclia^s own words i" " The 
D^ke" laid flte, *■ docs not love me, and even 
if he (hould have n paflion for <ne, and avow it, 
he fliould hear the confeflion «f my Tccipiocal 
lendernefs, but never receive my hand. I am 
indeed releafcd of my vow^ but my preCent li- 
berty will raifc my fidelity to my deceafed Locd, 
which was till jiow mere duty, to merit, and [ 
will remain conllant to him, as far as it will 
be in my power. I cannot command my love 
for the Duke^ however my hand is at my dif- 
pofal." 

'< Heavens 1 how you have damped my hap- 
piiiefs !" 1 replied after a painful paufct 

■< Should a mere whim of the Countefs real- 
ty be able to difheaiten your Grace ? you do not 
■confidcT how foon the love of a living adorer 
«an fubdueibe fidelity of a decrafcd hulband. 
Amelia's heart is jours, and her hand will cer- 
tainly follow." 

" It is not onlv Uiis incertitude that makes 
me uucafy ; (he Counted loves me becavfe flic 
«annot help it. Can a love which I do not 
«we to a voluntary attachment render me hap- 
py ?" 

•< How you are roving ! what ought to maJce 
«ou proud and happy damps your fpirits. What 
was it, that spelled Amelia irrefi ft ibiy to love 
you ? can it have been any thing elfe but the 
confcioufnefs of your perfe&ions, and an inefiiti' 
ble fympathy which has united your hearts ; and 
what can be more defirable, what more fincere 
Rud durable than fuch bonds i Mv Lord, love 
has 



SlAGfCAL DELUSION. yf 

has <Ione every thing for you, and ytfaliare done 
nothing for love. Difclofe to 'Amelia your fen-- 
trments, communicate to her your tendernefs, 
and her involuntary attachment to you will fooa' 
be changed into a voluntary paflion." 

" My deareft friend I my comforter !" I ex- 
daimcdf ** what friendly genius 13 it that fptaks- 
through you, and animates my whole nature ?" 

•'The genius of love — I have loved too, and- 
know how to advife in affairs of the heart. Bbt 
rcU me fincerely, my Lord, would your father 
eonfent to a match beneath your dignity ?" 

'* It would be of no confequenee if he fltould- 
not i I am DliIcB." 

'< I undeiiland you; however I fear Amelia 
would never eonfent to a union which fhoutd 
be deltituteof the l}enedi£tioa of the Marquis 
of Villa*»al." 

" My father lovea me, and he will never op- 
pore his only fon in a matter Upon which de- 
pradstbe happtncfSof Ms life."' 

" Well then ! I will leave you to youf good' 
fortune. 1 (hall hot fail to ■ contribuM as much 
as in my power to promote that union.. How- 
ever, (added (he with dignity) I expeft froni' 
your candour, that you will not mt£nterpret my 
interview with you,, and the intereft: I take in^ 
that affair." 

" I look upon 'it as a proof ' of yourjnellima- 
ble fricndfliip.*'.' 

" O!' wychiMrenl" the Countefs refumed' 
^vith great emotion, *< I love you as a mother. 
I' could not bear any longer that two people* . 
who fcem to have been born for each other,, 
fbould mifunderlland one another in a manner 
fo lonnentiog to both of you. Tou will ren- 
tier Amelia happy, my Lord, or I am dreadful- 
ly miftakcn in my opinion of you. "With this 
D 3,, hopp* 



78 THEVICTlMOF 

hope I put the &te of my friend entirely in 
your hand. I confide to your care an angel, 
whofe early improYcment was my work, and 
conftitutes my pride, and whofe peifeflions yoa 
fcarcely know by half, 1 intruCt to you a being 
of the pureft and moll excellent of beans. Con- 
clude from this upon the confidence I repofe ia 
you." 

« I (hall endeavour to dcfcrre it." 

*' Retire now, clfe wc (hall be furpiifcd by 
Amelia ; but take care not to make her fufpe£t 
OUT interview and conrerfation. You even mu(t 
not vilit us this evening earlier than ufual." 

I promifed it, and retired. Uy whole frame 
had been in a fevefi(h tremor from the begin- 
ning of our conv^ifation. I could fcarcely utter 
the nioft necefiary anfwers to the . difcourfes o£ 
tlie Baronefs. To be loved by Amelia ! Thii in- 
telligence imparadtfcd me,, and my heart could 
fcarcely contain the unfpeakable biifs which had 
been (howered down upon me.* i went home 
like a dreaming pcrfon, went again abroad, and 
my feet carried me, unknowing to me, to the 
fpot whither a fecret impulfc urged me to go. 
However, the fevere command of the BaroneA 
had drawn a large circle around Amelia's abode, 
which repelled me. 1 hovered at the margin of 
it like a fpell-bound fpirit, and lighed lor the 
arrival of the appointed hour. Never had the 
fetting in of night been expefled with more im< 
patience, and the fun appeared to me to retire 
unufuall; late from the horizon. 

- * The cdtcoi h» ubn the llh<rtf to cartiil tbit. uid ma- 
ny other paflaee* wbidl iepi& the Duke u Irvinf or tdtviJ, 
and pourtnij me difpoiitio ' ■-■- — --- ' -■ -■■ — 

"itirely wheqever it could . 

ii chiir«aer, and the different Dtuitioi.. _ .. 

behold him, will ilnji fuggeft to the reader, Yihofe Icnfibi- 
liif uid imaginatioD ue of a lively oaiure, the Hate rf hii 
bean i tbc left may eCaty (iipply (bis defeA from ttwrlt. 

Ax 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 79 

■ At length the wiftcd-for hour arrived j how- 
ever, the moment when I wag gmttg to the 
houfe which contained all thai was dear to me, 
an unfpeakable ansiety damped fuddenly mf 
rapturous ]oj. I had promired not to betray br 
my behaviour the intelligence which the Baronefs 
had imparted to me, and yet I deemed it impof- 
fiblc to prefervc fuch a dominion over myfeli if 
the vehemency of my ftate of mmdlhould not 
abate. This was the fource of my ' anxiety, • 
which added to the danger of expofing rayfelf,- 
becaufe it deprived mC' of the fniall remnant of 
felf dominion which my rapturous joy had left 
me. I entered the houfe< The woman of the 
Countcfs told me her' Lady was in the garden. 
I went through feveral rows of trees without 
finding her.' The moon peeped now and then 
through the fieecy clouds, -and concealed her fil- 
vcry orb again. The- great extent of the gar- 
denj.and the impetuous tllate of my mind, in-' 
creafed the difficulty of finding the idol of my 
heart. At length, ftepping forth from a fide 
path, enclofed with high facdgesi I fancied [' 
law foma thing. ftirring at a dillance, sear a fta- 
tue. Having advanced fome paces, the light 
of the moon refle^ing from the"maible flatue ' 
upon Amelia, removed every doubt. I approach- 
ed with tottering Haps, and found Amelia re- ' 
dining againll the p^deftal of a Diana, and im'^~ 
Rierfed in profound meditation. The rultling 
of the dry leaves beneath my footlteps, roufed - 
her from her reverie. 

*< Good evening, . my Lord," faid flie witk 
evident confuCon, "have you not met Lady.- 
Delicr i" 

'* No, my-Lady I 1 hSve not." 

« She left me Ibme time&nce,^ and might al- 
ready have returned." 

D 4. L'-...i,Goi:>5JtVp 



8o THE VICTIM OF 

•< Very ftrange f I am come to take Jearr, 
and meet fou fiift by accident." 

" Leaye ?'* (he replied with furprife. " Then 
you are determined to depart to-moirow." 

" I muft." 

A long paure. 
■ " And you ate going to Ma*'*t ?" 

" To Ma*»*t, and from thence to my native 
country," 

A fecond paulc. At length fhe faid with em- 
phafis and aSc^ion : *• Heaven piotefi: you on 



•« What is the matter with yon, my Lord ?** 
Amelia exclaimed, fixing her eyes on mei 
" Good God, how pale you look 1" 

The emotions of my heart were dreadful; 
my working bofom threatened to burlt. ** God 
knows," I replied with a faltering roicct *' wh«' 
tbet I 'Ihall fee you again." 

*• We fliall certainly meet again," faid tbe^ 
looking up to heaven. 

" Merciful God t fliould my hopes bloflbm 
firft beyond the grave." 

« What hopes?" flic exclaimed with inqtiiG' 
live aftoniOiment. 

<• And do you not divine hew this reparation 
will wound my hean ?" 

Amelia looked anxioufly around, as if feeking 
Lady Delicr ; and then fixed her eyes again 
doubtfully on me. 

*' My Lord, your words and your behaviour 
arc myfterioua to me." 

•• Then receive their explanation kindly,** I 
replied, letting myfelf down on one knee, and 
taking hold of tier hand, " I love you." 

• The 



D51z=.JnGOOglC 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 8t 

Tlie Countefs was ftruct dumb with furprifc 
— " And this you tell me when ttking leave!'* 
fhe lifped at length. 

Ifancied I pcTceivcd a foft preflure from her 
hand, and returned it with glowing lips. She 
bent her taper form to raife mc up, and Lady 
Dclier ftepped fuddenly between us. •' What 
do I fee?" (he exclaimed, difTembling aflonilh- - 
ment, " a declaration of lore i" 

Amelia remained filent, and the Baronefs re- 
peated her (lueltion, 

" A declaration, my Lady !" I 'replied, but 
no anfwer. 

" My fweet friend," (he whifpered archly in ■ 
AmeliaV-eark "I hope yo!i will not let him ■ 
defpair." 

«' I eannot conceire, my Lord," ' Amelia re- 
plied, " why you make- this declaration when ' 
taking leave t' 

I told her nearly the fame I had told to the 
Baronefs in the morning. Amelia viewed me a ' 
lotig time with filent altonifhment, and at length' 
replied : 

" A mifundcrrianding, a mifunderftanding' on ' 
both fides I Very ft range, indeed I" (he (hook her 
head fmiling. 

" My dearelt loirc," the Baronefs exclaimed, ■ 
"look at tlie Duke, ^ how he watches every 
word of yours, in hope of receiving an anfwer." 

Amelia feeroedtoheGiate what to reply } how- 
ever, after a fiiort filence, . faid to me with the 
innate dignity of a noble, generous mind : '< My 
J^rd, if you want to have a confort, then I 
muft beg you to forget me. But if you arc iti 
qued of a loving heart, then—" added fhe in a 
low accent, and with crimfoning cheeks, x you 
have found it." 

D 5;. I don't ' 

ctv.-.ii,Googlc 



Si THE VICTIM OF 

I cton't know what I replied, noi caa I recoI> 
\e£\ what 1 faid aficiwardi ; foi from the mo- 
ment flic had pronounced the coiifeflion of her 
nciprocaMove» I thought my&lf traofported to 
Paradife, and breathed in a new and better 
fphere. The poflefCoo of Amelia^ heart, en- 
furcd to me by the declaration of her own lips^ 
bad expelled fmm my breaft every tecuftiial wilh; 
Biy whole nature (eemcd to me exalted and pu. 
tined of all earthly dregs,, and the flame which 
had penetrated my frame, was a facred fire clear- 
ed of every particle of fenfualiiy. O I innocent 
love, thou ofBpiing of the facred afRnit; of two 
congenial fouls> thou art perhaps the fole fpe- 
cies of union and enjoyment, which is capable 
to aflbrd us here below a notion of the uiuon^ 
and the pleaOiie of the inhabitants of the he»> 
venly regions. How naturat'-theTefore,. if we^ 
. particularly in the fnCt moments of enjoyment^, 
are inc^able to exprefs fuch (eiuiments by words. 
However, my faltering accents, my contufed ex-* 
preflions,. and my incoherent fcntences, fcemed 
neretihelefs to be as well UndcrAood by Amelia,, 
at if (he were reading in iny foul, which I could 
conti^c from her words, and the flill plainer . 
IpeaHng play of her mien. Love had difiufed 
ever her countenance new and unfpeakable 
' charms, w hich furrounded her » ith a glory that 
made htt appear to me a more than mortal be- 
ing. And to be belovxd by her — that blifs would 
have overpowered me, if I had not been made 
acquainted with my happinefs in the morning. 

Lady Deher, who had left us to ourfclves all 
the timcj interrupted ni at length. "Children !'* 
faid flie, " do you luiow that it is not far from 
eleven o'clock i" I ftarted up as if fome grifly 
^£ire had furprifed me, becaufe I recollected 
the UnkncKit, eleven o'clock being the time 
;whcn 

D51z=.JnG0t>5k ' 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 83 

when I bad promifcc] to meet him at (he place 
of rendezvous at a conftderable diltance. I was 
obliged to take leave of Amelia. 

To take leave I— without knowing whether I 
ftiould ever fee her again, - for I was to depart 
the nextmbrn with the dawn of day. This idea 
overpowered me fo much, that I promifed Ame^ 
lis and myfelF to viftt her once more to-morrow 
before my departure. - Our feparation was, ne- 
Tcrthelefs, fo affliftihg, the parting on both fides 
fo diScult, and the hit adieu pronounced with 
quivering lips'.— Alas! ' a fecret ' prefratiment 
feemed to whifpcr in my car that we (hould>meet 
no more. Hew many times did I attempt to go ■ 
and ftupped again— how many time* did' I go 
and return again to aflure Amelia that I (hould 
ctrtainly fee her once more I ^^Her emotions 
feemed, indeed, to belefe vehement than mine, ■ 
however, I could not be deceived, and obferved 
the fecret workings of her foul, perceived the 
pearly tear that AaRed from her eye and the vi.- 
olent heaving of her bo Com. 

Lady Del ier did hot long remain anidlefpee- ~ 
taior, exhorting us to dedicate the prefent mo- 
ment to joy, and- to yield to our grief to-moi- 
row, tearing the Councefs from my arms and - 
wifhing me a good night. . 

I flopped once more on the terrace, faw the * 
two ladies retiring to a grove of beech-trees, and 
Aihelia turn twice, beckoning to me.- My tears 
flowed fluently, my arms were expanded for her» 
the darkncfs of the night concealed' her from 
my wilhful looks. I rufhed mechanically into 
the ftreet, and arrived at the place of rendezvous 
without knowing how. It was a lonely fpot 
covered with trees. The Irilhmin foon joined 
me. 

« My 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



84 THE VICTIM OF 

" My time U fhort," he faid, " and I have to 
teU yoQ a great deal ; let us lit down." So 
fayinp he led me to a ftone bench beneath a 
fpreading oak, and we feated ourrelves. 

He feemed to obferrc my being violently aRi- 
tMed, and kept a long and folemn (ilcnce to give 
me time to recover. — " I wifli, my dear Duke !" 
—he at length began, " that you may not ex- 
pc£t more from this interview than I am allowed 
to give. I mud confine myfelf merely to the 
theoretical part of that occult fcicnce to which 
I have promifed to initiate you after the time of 
probation Iball be finilhed. However, it is here' 
as it is with all other fciences ; the pupil of 
fenfc guefles by the theory, what he may expert 
from the practical part of the fcience— as a 
painter beholds in a fketch the pifture which is 
to be drawn, or as an archited fees in the plan 
drawn on the paper the building which is to be 
conflrufled j be thetefore fansfied witli what I 
dare impart to you for the prcfent." 

" I do not defire you to difclofe to me, more 
than I am able to bear at prefent." 

The Irishman paufed again, and then began 
thu^ : 

" If our powers of perception were confined 
only to our fenfcs, the vifible world would then 
encompafs all our ideas, fentiments, wifhes and 
ht/pcs. .No idea of fpiiits, of God and of im- 
mortaUty would raifc us above the fphcre of ma- 
tcrialiiy. In order to produce and to -conceive 
ihefe ideas a fuperfenfible faculty is required. 
This facuhy which, if clofely examined, bears 
not the kail refemblancc to the reft of our in- ■ 
tclleflo^il powers, is called reajen. The idea of 
the whole fenfible world ofTets nothing to us that 
is not coiporeal, finhe, and perilhable. How- 
ever the territory of reafon opens to us a prof- 
nefl to a world without bounds, and of an 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 85 

everlafting duration ; difplays to us a kingdom 
of fpirits which is governed by one Infinite Spirit 
after wife and ^cred laws. An unknown world 
©f which we had- not the moll diftant notion,, 
of which fenfation gives us not the leaft hint, 
and for which our fenfes have no perception . 
nor fcale, opens toour view when our reafon 
begins to unfold itfelf. You fee, therefore, 
vhat faculty of the foul muft be our guide in 
our prefent inveftigationi if we wiOi to pe- 
netrate, b^ means of it,, to the kingdom of 
fpirlts."" 

" Rea(bn !"' 

•*GertainIyI there is no-other choice Jcftj. 
and' therefore let us learn to value and to ufc 
this light that illuminates the darknefs in which 
every ohjeit difappcars from the eyes of mere 
fenfitivemcnj or at moft' appears very obfiurt-.xo 
tbem. That man whofe reafon is ovetdarkened, 
or difcompofed hy fenfuality, either will denf 
the exiftcnce of fpirits and our relation to them, 
or attribute to them the contradictory fliapc 
which his difordered imagination has hatched out, 
like the blind -botn, who denies the exiltence of 
• colours as ridiculous and abfurd, or if he be- 
lieves the unanimous teftimony of thofe that fee, 
imagines colours to bear fome refemblance to 
founds. Unbelief and fuperilition afFord us 
iiumbcrlefs inlbmces of people of that defcrip- 
tion. Only the more impartial have always 
maintained that one ought not to judge precipi- 
tately of thefe objects, and only the wifel): of 
mankind have been able to form a jult judgment 
of them," 

" O Hiermanfor ! introduce me to the circle 
of the latter. I have already in the ditTerent 
periods of my life adhered to all the other par- 
tics. Ill the days of my earlier youth 1 believed 
in appaiitiouSf like the moft ignotant of the 
loweft 



86 THE VICTIM OF 

lowed clafi. In a more advanceil period of life 
I fancied I was coDvi£ted of the iinpolfitiility of 
apparitions, .and everGbce I got acquainted with 
you, I hare been' wavering between unbelief and ^ 
fupcrlHtion; It was but lateljf that I lefolved 
to poflpone my judgment on thefe fubje^s, > 
tffl I Ihould be better conrincedj jind this con-, 
vidlion I expefl of you.** 

** I Willi not difappoirit your hope} however,-, 
I muft repeat once more that I can leB,d you to - 
truth by no other road but thatofrcafon puiU 
fied from all fenfua) dregs. You. will find it' 
difficult to purfue that road, and it will be no-' 
cafytalkto me to guide you. I [halt be obliged . 
to- avoid all emblematic language, in order to- - 
convey loyour miiid thefe fiiperf<m(ible noriont 
in their natural purity, and it will be iKceflarf 
that you Ihould know how to apply the ab-- 
ftrafleft'and pureft notions, although they ihould 
contrad(£t your prefent manner of perception." 

"I (hall at leaft not be -wanting in attenuon ^ 
and good-will."' 

"Firftofall, it^will b6necefl*ary to agree in ' 
the notion of what is: called ^irii. The bcft 
method of fixing that notion will be to examine 
what the word fpirit ntcana according to the^- 
neral rules of language. It one fays, man confiUs 
of body and fpirit, by the former a corporeal, ■ 
and by the latter an mcorporeal being is under- 
ftood^ We have, therefore, a common point 
from which we can proceed in our inveftigation. 
Spirit is oppofite to body. In this point we a- 
gree according to the moft g^eral meaning and 
' ufe of the word." 

" I do.*" 

" Let us fee what- follows thence I Every 
Iwiy is a compounded, extended, impenetrable 
being, fubje^ to the laws of motion, confe- 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 87 

quentlyt tnty Jpirit U a fimple, unextended 
and penetrable being notTubjpacd to the laws of. 
motion." 

"Eiaaiyfo!" - 

" Bodies are extended, that U Aer occupjr a 
rcom, and the proportion which one body bears 
to the other in piunt of room, conflitutes its 
glace 1 fpiritftare not extended, and confcquently 
cxift in nO' nom^ and in no place." 
" How am r to underftand thii ?" ' 
*• Jiift' a« I' have faid. — But let me elucidate 
my argtiment.. Why cannot two bodies cxift 
at the fame time^ in. the. fame fpace f Bccaufe 
they exclude eadi other on-account of their ex. 
tcniion and impenetrability.. Two bodies miift, 
of courfe, occupy two dif&rent places, if ex- 
Hling at the iamc time j, that is, every indivi< 
dual, body a^ii occupy its own indiridual 
place. And why. miril. every body occupy its- 
«u/( pUce ?" 

« Beoaufe of its ei^ aidon and . nnpenetra- 
lality.V 

« Very well! But thefe two qualities cannot 
appenain to a fpirit,.and,.confequently^.a fpirit 
can occuf^ no place." 

" This fcems really to ft^W." 
•■ This argument can alfo be dated thus : 
a fpirit has, as a funple beii^, neither a right 
nor a left,, neither a. front nor a bacli Gde, and 
confeqpently can have no relation from no fidt 
to any thing that occupies a fpace. The coa- 
cIuGon b very palpable." 

'< Then a fpirit could occupy no room in the 
whole material world ?" 

*« Would you perhaps aflign to fpirits a place 

in the immaterial world ? How covitd you inu:- ' 

. gine, without contradi£lion, that fpace or place 

tancxift in/wia world? If one fpiricdoes not 

occupy 



88 > THE VICTIM OF 

occupy a room, then all fpirtts together can oc- 
cupy none, how could therefore any proportion * 
extft am<»ig them with relation to fpace or ' 
place >" 

*' I comprehend and do not comprehend you.' ■ 
Touwant to convince fnc of the polTibility of 
apparitions of fpirits, and deny the cxtftence of 
fpirits ; for if they do occupy no place cither to 
the TiGble or invifible world, ivbere clfc can ther 
exin ?>• 

" How fcnfitivc and confufed your ideas are ! '' 
Don't you perceivd that your qncftion is equal ' 
to this : in which place do fpirits exift ? and that, . 
of courfe, you premife in yoiir quellion what 
I have jull clearly proved tobeabfurd. Do you 
not comprehend that reem and place are nothing - 
elfc but external qualities, only relations of ffw- 
r*m/ things i and do you belicrc that the exif- 
tcnce of any being depends merely on external 
qualities and material relations ?" 

*' Have patience with me !"" 

*• i have ; for 1 am well aware how difficult- 
il is to abftraA from- material ideas ; however, . 
fmce they cannot be applicable to fpirits we mult 
renounce ihemi clfc we cannot pafs over the 
bounds of the material world." 

" I imreat you, Hiermanfor, to go on ?" 

" From our invelligation we have learnt, . 
as yet, nothing fanher than what a fpirit is ne^, 
and what attributes cannot be afcrtbed to it. We 
now mult endeavour to Aate what real qiialictes 
conltitutc the nature of fpirits. One of them . 
we have already touched upon ; I mean, indc* 
pendence on the laws of phyfical nature, or 
arbitrary choke. A fecond quality prefles upon ■ 
U3, namely tht ficully of perception, which our 
foul is endowed with like all other fpirits. And 
now we are enabled to form a notion of fpirits* 
which, 

r..... I, Google 



MAGICAL DELUSION. «? 

which, however imperfe^ ii be, yet is deter* 
mined : a fpirit is a fimple bcin;;, endowed with 
artiCrary choice, and \h& faculty of perception. Don't 
you think that this dehnicion aufwers the com- 
mon maimer of fpeaking." 

•< An additional proof of its fitrefs." 
" In the fame manner in which the body 
evinces its csiftcnce, by the material effeft it 
produces in the room, the fpirit likcwifc proves 
its cxiftence by the manifeftation of its faculty 
of perception and of free will. However evi- 
dent and generally received this propofuion is» 
■yet it is mifappiied very frequently 1 for it is, 
according to my premifes, abfolutely falfci 
and nothing elfe but a kind of opiic illuJion, if 
wc imagine our foui to be inclofed in the human 
body, nay even in fome paiticular place of it. 
This illulion maybe oppofcd by another: there 
arc diveifion's of thought, in which the think- 
ing principle leaves our body fo entirely, that 
only the antmat powers are active in tl« latter, 
and on the return of our awakening felf-cou- 
fcioufnefs, the foul feems to return froj^ far 
diflant regions. However, this too is mere il- 
Jufion. We can fay nothing farther of the union 
which fublills between our foul and body, than 
that our foul is feniibleof the exidcnce of a cor- 
poreal oig>n, the mutations of which harmonifc 
cxaflly with her ideas atld rcfolutions j however, 
ms you never will fuppofe that your fpirit is cn- 
dofed by the walls of Amelia's diHant habita- 
tion, where your whole foul, vnth all her fcn- 
timents and ideas, is, as it wcic, tranflocated to ; 
fo your fpitit can alfo not be fuppo&d to be 
iiiclofcd in your body, which feema to be its. 
common rehdence. No, no, my Lard, that 
cannot be ! the bonds of fpace can never fetter 
an immaterial being to a mateiial one," 

« Thij. 



90 THE VICTIM OF 

" This is indeed the natural concliiiion wh'icb 
fiow9 from your premifes ; but by what bonds 
fhould then the communion between body and 
foul be prcferved ?" 

** Your quellion refers to a fad, the anrwer 
to it, confequendy, belongs to the praiflical part 
of this philofophy. Yet (added the Inlhman, 
after fome reflexions) I can give you a hint upon 
that head, whichwill throw fome light upon it :: 
Every fubftance, confequenily the body too, mu(t' 
poiTefs an internal ai^^ivity, that is thcinTtdble 
caufc of its eitemal actions, which are vifible in) 
thcfpace. This internal principk of the body,, 
ails upon the fpirlt in the fame manner. in which-< 
the fpirit 2,Eta upon this principle. Soul and- 
body, confequentiy, cannot aft upon each other 
immediattly, but only by means of this principle. 
As all maierial beings, concrecirely taken, com- 
pofe a great totum, which is called the phyfical 
world, fo the concrete of alt immaterial bciniuf 
compofes what we call the immaterial worU... 
It follows from the antecedent, that, the order, , 
regularity ».. and union which are fccnin the form- 
er worid, arc entirely difFerent from the order,, 
regularity, and unioH which prevails in the latter 
world. All material beings are fubjecl to the. 
fceptre of ftern ncccfliiy, anil Itept in order by 
phyfical laws ; the rank which thcfe beings main- 
tain towards one another, is founded either oQ- 
innatc qualities, or fuch as have been attributed 
to them by general agreement ; and they are . 
nearer eachother, ormore dillant from one ano-- 
thcr, according to their relations conlUtuted by 
fpace and time. — How different 1^ this in the ma-- 
terial world I -rational beings, .endowed with free 
will, are fubjc£i to no other laws but to thofe of 
morality ; the prerogatives and degrees which 
fubJilt uDDDgthein, depend oa the.dificreat de4 
grec&- 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 91 

grees of their wiCdom and virtue, and according 
10 the Gmllaritjr or dtfTercnce of their manner of 
thinking, and of their fentiments, they are near- 
er each other^ or more dtllat\t from one another ^ 
that is, the; harmonize, or dilharmonize. Maa 
belongs, by virtue of his body and foul, to both 
of thefe worldS) atid, confequenily, isconncflcd 
with the material And immaterial world. It may 
therefore liappen, that the fame perfon who ails 
an important part on earth, in virtue of his phy- 
lical or poltiicat fituation, occupies M the fame 
time the Lowell degree among the fuperterreflrial 
beings ; tliat the foul of a body whofe beauty 
charms every eye here below, is an indifierent, 
or a contemptible object in the fpiritual world t 
that the (but of au inhabitant; of Saturn, and 
that of aa iuhabitant of the earth, with regard 
tft their fpiritual Communian, are ofteniimesy 
nearer ne'^hbouri than the fouls of tholi: whofe 
abode is beneath the fame root.'^ 

'* This is very plain !" 

" The human foul, of courfc, is already, ia 
iliis life, connefled with the members of the in- 
viiible wurlil. and this connection is lading and 
eflcntial, while that with the body is acctUciiial 
sod tranGent. However a union of fubltances* 
that is, of a^ivc natures, cannot be fuppofed ta 
cxilt without a reciprocal influence ; confe- 
qucmly the human foul mud have an effe^ive in- 
fluence upon the fpiitts to whom Ihe is linked^ 
and.the members of the fpiritual world muft a6t 
reciprocally on our foul. But why are ^e not 
equally fcnfible of thefe reciprocal influences and. 
communicaiionSi as of thote which fubGH be- 
tween our foul and body i The caufe of this is 
very obvious. The human fpiritxan have a cleai 
ideaonlyof the objects of the material world, 
bcc%ufc of its corporeal organ ; it isi therefore^ 



51 THE VICTIM OF 

not ev«n capable of a clear immediate contempTa - 
lion of its own felf, much Icfs of its immaterial 
relations to other fpirits : the difFerence which ex- 
ills between ihofe ideas which arifc in our foul bjr 
means of its immateriality, and its cammunion 
.with fpiritual beings, and the ideas which it 
receives by the medium of the body, or abftra^k- 
ed from mate ri ill objc^s, is foefTentiali that the 
ideas of the former kind cannot come in connec- 
tion wilh thofc of the latter; for which reafoa- 
ve have either no notion at all of them, or, at 
mofl, a very obfcurc one i however, we become 
plainly confciotK of them as foon as the union 
of the foul and its corporeal organ ceafcs." 

" This, Kiermanfor, fecms, ia fome meafure 
to be the cafe when we arc fleeping^, and the fen- 
Glive organs are rcfting from their occupations. 
Should therefore thofe philofophcrs of aotiquity, 
who have believed that in our dreams we are ca- 
pabable of being influenced by fuperior beings, . 
uid of receiving fupcrnatural iufpjrations, br- 
miftalten ?^ 

" There la, certainly, fome truth in this re- 
mark. I muft, howevBr* obfcrvt, xftat wc d». 
not polTefs that capacity when dreaming, but 
when we are faft aflcep. It is commonly thought 
. that we have only obfcurc notions in the latter 
ftaie, and thie opinion arifes from our not recol. 
lefling them when we awake j however, on what 
ground can one conclude therefrom that they 
have not been clear while we were fleeping ?; 
Such-ideas, perhaps, may be dearer and more 
eitenfivc, than even the moft perfpicuous when . 
we areawakc, becaufethe activity of Our foul it- 
neither modified nor confined by any thiugwhat-- 
cvcr, the fenfitive organs b.ing intirtiy at refl. 
However, this very reft of our fenfitivc organs,. 
is the caujfc wljich prevents the re-produ£tion of; 
thcfc^ 



MAGICAL DEtirSION. 9J 

ihefe ideas when we are awake, our fleecing bodj 
having no Ihare in them, and, consequently, 
being deftitute of' its concomitant notion of 
them ; they, of courfe , remain infuhtcd in our 
foul, having no connexion at all with thofe ideai- 
which arife within ouifetves before and after wa 
arc fait aflcep, and in which our body takes a 
greater or a fmaller <hare. This is not the cafe 
with our dreams i for when we are dreaming, the 
faculties of the foul do not a€t fo pure and un- 
controutcd as when wc are fall aAeep. Bream- 
ing is an intermediate ftatc between waking and 
Deeping. We have then already, in fome mej- 
fure, clear i(icas> and interweave the anions of 
our foul with the imprelTions of o>ir exterior 
fenfcs, whereby a flrangc, and fometimes ridi- 
culous mixture is engendered^ which we partly 
secollcjfl when we awake." 

" You have, as yet, proved only the probabi- 
lity of clear notions during our being fait alleep ; 
«ould you not alfo prove their reality f" 

" Certainly t however thefe arguments do not 
belong to the theoretical part of our philofophy. 
Yet I muft beg of you to recollefl, en paflant, 
the a£^ions of fome no£lambu]os, who fome- 
times, during the profoundeA fleep, (how more 
under (Ian (ling than at any other time, but can- 
not recutlettihofe aflions when awake f* 

** This ib true !" I exclaimed, " this throws 
an aflonilhing light upon this matter." 

" Yet rot only while aflcep," the Iiifliman 
continued, ''but alfo when awake, many people 
can be capable of having a clear notion of chcir 
conncflion with the fpiritual world, and the in- 
fluence of fpiriis upon thepi. Yet the ellcntial 
difference which exills between ilie notions of 
j^rits and tbufe of taeu is a great impediment, 
which, however, is not at all infumiountable. 



94 THE VICTIM OP 

It ii true that man cannot have an immtdiait noti- 
on of thofe fpiritual ideaSt becaufc of the co- 
operation of hie corporeal organi; howerer thejr 
can, in virtue oF the law of the aflbciation of 
idcxSt produce in the human mind tbofc image* 
which arc related to them, and confcquemJy pro- 
create analogical reprerentationE of our fenfes, 
which, although they be not the fpiritual actions 
themfclves, yet are their fymbols." 

«' I perceive what you are aiming at." 
" Examples Will render the matter more intel- 
ligible lO you. Expeiience teaches that our fu- 
perior intelle^ual notions, which are near a-kin 
to the fpiritual ideas, commonly aflumc a bodily 
garb, in order to render themfelves perfpicuous. 
Thence the poet tranforms wifdom into the God- 
defs Minerva, the fttugs of conlcience into fu- 
rici>, and perfonifies virtues and vices ; the ma- 
thematician <lefcTibes time by a feie, and is there 
any philofopher who always forms an idea even 
of the Godhead, without intermixing human 
ijualities ? In that manner ideas, which have been 
impaned to us by fpiritual induence, may drefs 
theBifelves in the fymbolsof that /(n/^vni'^ which 
is common to us, and the prefencc of a fpirit 
which we perceive, affume the image of zJ/umait 
_y&3/f— witnefs the late apparition c^ your tutor. 
Thus the theory of all fupematural infpira. 
tions and vilions ij afccrtaincd i confujuently the 
apparitions (rf fpirits have that in common with 
our dreams, that they reprefent to us effects 
which are produced within ourfelves, as if hap- 
pening viithtut ourfilvai however, at the fame 
lime, they differ frt|m them with refpe£t to their 
being really foundeyl upon an effect from viiihoulf 
a fpiiicual influence. However this influence 
cannot reveal itfelf to our confcJoufnefi inimedi- 
'■telyf but only by tneani of afTociatcd images of 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 



95 



OMX. fancy, which attain the vivacity of objeAi 
really perceived. You fee, thercfsre, what aa 
ellential dilTerencc there is between the phantomi 
of our dreams, and the apparitions of fpirits. 
But here is the boundary of theory. The criteri- 
on whereby apparitions of fpirits, in every parti- 
cular cafc^ can be Jiftinguilhed with certainty, 
fromvain phantoms, and fupernatural infpirari- 
ons from natural ideas, and the means of cfie^l- 
ing apparitions, and of obtaining alTiftance and 
inurudiens from spiritual beings; thefeandfe- 
veral more things belong to the prafiical part of 
the occult philoiophy. 

■" Here my Lord, I rnufl conclude for the prc- 
-fent, and drop the xurtain. Strefs of time ob- 
liges me to abbreviate my difcourfe on a fut>je£t 
which would not be ^xhaulled in many days i 
however I may lafely .leave to your own under* 
Handing the finifhing and enlargement of this 
Ikctcb. Suffice it -that i have enabled you to com- 
prehend the apparition tof your friend, and to 
fee that reafon does not pronounce judgment 
aguinft fubjefls of this nature, but rather is {he 
only mean which afibrds us light and certainly- 
with refpetl to them. The theory which I have 
given you may, at the fame time, ferve you to 
judge whether it will be worth your trouble to 
be initiated in the myllerics of the praflicai part 
of this philofophy. However, I muit tell you, 
that no mortal who has not fan£li6ed himfelf by 
bridling his fenlitive nature, and purifying his 
fpiritiut faculties, can be admitted to that fanc- 
luary. Are you refolved to do this ?* 

"lam, put me to the telt T' 

<« Then depart with the firft dawn of day 
for Ma**id, without taking leave of the Coun- 
tefs." 

The 

c4v=.JnGooglc 



96 THE TICTIM OP 

The Irtftiman could not have chofcn a fevcFC* 
trial, noT demanded a greater facriiice. The com- 
bat which I had to fight with my heart, before I 
could come to a rcfolution, was Ihort but dtcad- 
ful.- I promifcd the Iriftman to eiecute liis 
will. 

" Well !" faid he, " then heirwhat meafurea 
you are to take. As Toon as you (hall be arriv- 
ed at Ma""id you mult, without delay, wait up- 
on the Prime Minifter, OlivVcz, and ihe Secre- 
tary of (late, Suma*ez, but take care not to 
difcover your political views to either of them i 
pretend that you intend to (lay fomc time 
at Ma**id merely for tlie fake of amufemcnt. 
Repeat your vifits till you have gained their con- 
fidence. Your winning demeanor, my Lord, 
and your intimate conueflion with Vafcon'ct- 
los will render this conquelt eafy.— Farewell, at 
Ma*»id we Ihall meet again !" 

We parted. The Irilhman returned once 
more. " Your manner of life while at Ma"*id,* 
faid he, " will require great expences, and you 
mild be well provided with money. 1 have ta- 
ken care that you (hall be well fupplted with 
that needful ariicle. You wilt (ind in your 
apartment a fum which you may difpofc of 
at pleafure." So faying, he Ictt me fud- 
denly. 

On coming home, ] found on my table two 
bags with money, each of them containing a 
(houfand ducats. Pietro rold me they had 
been brouglit by a fervant of the lri(h Captain. 

No one will doubt that I was now entirely 
devoted to the Iiilliman. By his difcourfe at 
the burying place he h^A perfuaded, and by his 
liberality convinced me, th>'t 1 could not do better 
than to let inyfelf be guided entirely by him i 
snd 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 97 

and as I at firft had been determined to. this by 
the conquering fupcriority of his foul, fo I was 
now confirmed in it by the applaufc of my tea. 
fon. Nay, if the Irifliman fhould now Jiave of- 
fered to break off all coniieftion with me, I ftiould 
have courted his friendlhip, fo much had I been 
charmed by the profound wifdom of bis dif- 
courfc. Not the lead veftige of miftrufl againft 
his fecret power was left in my foul, and (he 
very regard for philofophy which but lately had 
prejudiced me againft him, was now one of the 
Arongell bonds that chained mi to him.^How 
agreeably was I furprifcd to find in Rea/a/i her- 
felf, whom I formerly had thought to be the 
principal adrerfary of the belief in miracles, 
the moCt convincing arguments for the fame, and 
to have been conquered with the fame weapons 
which I hddbeen fighting witli againft the Irith- 
man, without having the leaft reafon to reproach 
him with having recourfe to any ftratagem what- 
ever. The fraukncfs and the ftrcngth of ar- 
gument which diftinguiflied every Ttep of his 
philofophical inflrudlion, were to me the molt 
unexceptionable fccurity for the juftnefs of the 
refulc. If he had delirei'ed his arguments in 
a flowery and myfterious language, fupported 
by the charms of declamation, then I fhould 
certainly have fufpeflcd them ; howerer he had 
made ufe of the cool, fimple, and clear lan- 
guage of reafon, divefted of all fophiftical ar- 
tifices i ftarted from ptinciplcs which are gene- 
rally received, drew no conclufions to which 
he was not intitlcd by his premifes, combated 
errors and prejudices upon which he could 
have founded furreptitious conclufions; nay, it. 
appeared as if he, unmindful of what he was 
to prove, had left it entirely to the courfe of his 
impartial inquiry whither it would lead him. 
Vol. II. E and 



9S THE VICTIM OF 

and I bcbeld myfclf, vitb aftonilhment, on the: 
coDclufion of it, at the mark from which the 
road we had taken tfaieatened to lead us aftray. 

I cannot dcfcribe the wonderful bold ideas 
which the inftruAiona ] had received prodnced 
in roy mind, nor the avfuUy agreeable fenlati- 
Otts which tbofc ideas were accompanied with. 
'llie riCng fun furpnfed me in that indefcribable 
{latcof mind* and reminded me by his rays, diac 
it was time to fet off. 

I made, without delay, the requifite prepara- 
tions, and in a quarter of an hour Hepped into 
my carriage. 1 looked once more back to the 
fpoc- where Amilia reCded, and drove through 
the ciiy-gate. 

At the firft Aage I wrote to her that an nnforc- 
fcen important accident had forced me to fet out 
on my journey fo early in the jnorsing that it 
would have been unbecoming lo pay her the pro- 
mifcd farewell viCt ; I vowed to return on pini- 
ons of loTCj as foon as my buGncfs at M*"**d 
fhould t«E fettled. I painted with Uvely colours 
all the pains of feparaiion, and all the tendcr- 
nefs ..of.aa affli£led heart, in order to convince 
Amelia that I had been forced by item necellity 
(o depart without feeing her once more. Alas ! 
the farther the rolling carriage removed me from 
the dear obj<^ of my love, the more I grew 
fenfible of the grcatnefs of tbe facrifice which 
J had made to the Irifhman. I examined my 
letters and papers in order to divert my gloomy 
thoughts, and found one more copy of a letter 
from the Irilbman which I had not yet decy- 
phered. The following is the rcfult of my en- 
deavours to unfold its coQtenu : 

«Mt 

ctv.-.ii,Googlc 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 99 

* Mt Lord, 

« My dcfigns on Miguel had very near been 
ruined by the lofs or his life; and in fome 
. n^eafure I myfclf hav^ been the caufe of his 
having been hurried to the brink of deltriidion. 
But who could have forcfcen fuch an event! With 
the leave of your excellency, I fhall relate the , 
incident at large. 

* I had fent one part of my fcrrants to follow 
Miguel on hi$ journey. I royfelf ftaid behind 
In order to make an attempt of redoring the 
health of the Countefs, for whofe life the igno- 
rance of her phyfician had made me trem- 
ble. The fuccefi I met with furpafled my molt 
fanguine cxpedlatton. Some drops of an ele£tu-< 
»ry which I poured into the mouth of the Coun- 
(cfs produced fo fudden an cfief), that, in a 
few hours, the moll u^cqulvoca^ fignt of return- 
ing health were perceived. As foon as I had 
been informed of this defirable change* I fol- 
lowed Miguel with the reft of my people, hav- 
ing prevloully ordered the valet of the Countef* 
to write three days after to the Duke, that the 
Countefs was dead— and in a few days later, 
that I had recalled her to life. At the fame 
time I requeued him to delire his difmiflion from 
Amelia and 10 follow me, becaufe I wanted his 
affillance in the executbn of my deGgns. The 
view I had in commanding him to inform the 
Duke of Amelia's pretended death was to con- 
vince myfeif by the manner in which he Ihould 
receive that intelligence, whether his love to the 
Countefs had been only a tranfient attachment, 
or whether his palTion for her was of a more 
ferious nature, and what degree it had attained. 
1 need not explain to your EiccUencVi how ne- 
Ci.'ffary this knowledge was to me. The fecond 
cotnmifiion had no other aim, than to pour bal- 
E 2 fam 



ICO THE VICTIM OP 

fam in Miguel's wound, and at the Tame time, 
to inalcc me appear to bim a miracle-working 
being, and his and Amelia's friend ; wherebjr I 
expcfied to gain bis confidence. 

' I purfucd my toad with fo much Ipeed, 
that I overtook Miguel before he had finilhed one 
half of his journey, and joined my people, who 
preceded rae. As foon as the Duke had i^rivcd 
at the place of his deftination, and we along 
wiih him, I quartered my people in diffisrent 
places in fuch a manner that he was furroundcd 
by them from all fides. I took a convenient houfe 
in the fuburbs for myfelf, in order to efcape hi> 
looks with greater fafety. 

*On the.third day after our arrival, MigncI 
received the letter by which he was informed 
:Of the Countefs's .death. The efTcft which this 
intelligence produced upon him muft have been 
a kind of fjenzy. One of my people who 
watched all his ficps, informed me late in the 
•ereningj he had feen Miguel rufhing out of 
hii houfe ■with every mark of liefpair in his 
^DuntenfincCj and running with fuch a velocity 
that be and his comrade hardly had been able 
to follow him. He added that Miguel after two 
hours roaming about, had Hopped not far from 
hence, at the banks of a river, where he was 
walking uj> and dovvn, abfoibed in profonnid 
reverie. 

" Soon after a fecond meffcnger told mc, Mi- 
guel had plunged into the river, but one of his 
comrades who had wutched him narrowly, and 
leapt after him, had fiaved him, and was going to 
carry him to my houfe. A few minutes after, 
Miguel was brought by fome of my people. He 
rclcmblcd a cotpfc, the palpitation of his pulfe 
was fcarccly ptrceptible, and he was entirely bc- 
' reft of his re cohesion. 1 ordered him inllantly 



MAGICAL DELUSION. loi 

to be cariied to a fpacious empty raultr and while 
(omt of my men endeavoured to reftore him to 
the ufe of his fenfes, I was making preparations 
to chadife him fcTcrel/ when he uiould have re- 
covered from his ftupor. 

" As foon as my fervants perceived that he 
was recovering, I ordered him to be carried into 
the middle of the vault, and placed myfelf in 
deep difguife oppoGte liiin at a confiderable dif- 
tancCi malting a Irgnai to thofe who were [tfirfent- 
toretiretoan adjoining apaitment, and to take - 
the candles with them. No fooner wat every 
thing in order,, than I perceived by a deep groan 
of Miguel, that he had recovered hij recolleftion. 
— His Itate of mind when awaking, mult have 
been -very ftrange.- His recollcftion told him, 
that he had plunged into the river, ia a place- 
wheic he faw nobody prefent, and now he awoke 
in a dryj empty, aod fpacious dark room : he 
mud have fancied he awoke in another world ; 
and this idea feems to have thrilled him with its 
acu tell pungency, f6r he uttered a loud fcreani- 
which made the vault refound*. This was the 
Cgnal for which my people had been waiting tn 
the adjoining apartment. They kindled a pole 
which was hsed neac an aperture in the wall, and 
enveloped with flax,, and wetted mth fpirit of 
wine, which fpread a faint light through the fpa- - 
cious vault. The altonilhmeiit which Miguel 



ing ts get np. Th« IrUhmaa hiviug koown aathing of a 
circumftucc, it ii probable that the uahDown canfe of ihit 
pulllag dawn, wai no olher than .a root of the Ooke, with 
trhich he, ID hi] ftupor, kept his doakdawn, when be wa* < 
SCltlOE up withcul koawing it. 



E..3. D,....i,GoiT5fta- 



102 THE vict;m op 

was feized with, when looking all around atid 
feeing nothing but a man wrapt in a fcarlet cloak, 
fuTpaflcs all powers of defcription. His anxiety 
encreafed when he faw me Itaitiig at him without 
replying a word to bis* queA ions, and heard one 
of my people excfaim, in a doleful accent, woe I 
woe ! woe I When 1, at laft, Hepped forth and 
made myfelf known to him, he proltrated himfelf, 
as if in the prefence of a fuperigr being. I read 
him a feverc Ictlurc on his rafti deed, and at the 
fame time endeavoured to roufe his ambition for 
the fcrvicc of his country, in which I fucceeded. 
A foft mullc began at once in the adjoining chain- 
bcr, on a llgnal which I made to my people. 
The melodious llrains of a harp and a flute were 
accompanied by the fweet notes of an harmoni- 
ous voice, which announced to the afloniHi^d 
Miguel that Amelia was alive. His rapture bor- 
dered on frenzy. I ordered him to be filent, 
blind-folded him and delivered him to the care of 
a fervant, whom I fecretly ordered him to conduA 
him to his hotel* and to return no anfwer to his- 
queftions. My deputy acquitted himfclf ex- 
tremely -well of his trull. He led hi n hlently to 
his boiel, and when Miguel turned round the 
corner of the houfe, unfallcned the bandage 
which blindfolded his eyes, and concealed him- 
fclf in a houfe, the dour of which was open. 
Miguel mult have been Arangely Gtuated, when 
after a few Heps the bandage dropped from his 
eyes and nobody was fecn around him. Very 
fortunately thenight was far advanced, and the 
whole affair remained concealed. 

<* Thus happily ended an adventure which had 
begun in a manner fo inaufpicious. 

** However, Palclki has committed a foolilh 

trick, which I cannot forgive him. He dcGrcd 

his difmiffion from the Countcf^, wluch being re- 

... fufed- 



MAGTCAL DELUSION. iffj 

fufed by his Lady, who imagined him to b; a 
faithful fervant, he left her clandejlinely. He fhall 
fmart for this iiiconnderate aftion. 

" lam, with the greateftrefpcft, 
" &C. &c. &c." 

Asfar as this tetter informed me that no fuperioT 
power had had a (hare in the above mentioned ad- 
venture, it contained nothing that was new to me, 
for the Irishman himfelf had not concealed from 
me, that all the wonderful adventures which had 
happened to me before FaleOci's confelfion had 
been the effcft of illuCon ; however it was im- 
portant to me to learn haw, and by what artift- 
CC& I had been deceived. I cannot but confefs 
that this natural exjitanation of the whole affair 
cxcitedmy altonilhment at the Irithman, not lefs 
than thofe adventures had furprifed me at the 
time when I believed him to be a fupernatural be- 
ing, and that I ardently wifhed to havecleared 
up feveral other events of that epocha which I 
could not unriddle. 

Soon after- my arrival at M**""d, Iwem to 

Eay a vifit to the minifter. He received me very 
indly, and difcourfed above an hour with me, 
although he was fo overcharged with Hate-affairs 
that no ttranger could get accefe to him. I was 
not lefs fuccefsful with the Secretary of State, 
in whofe favour I ingratiatedmyfelf to muchin 
the courfe of half an hour, that he profcOed him- 
fclf extremely happy for having got acquainted ' 
witli me. Both of them invited me to vifit tbcra 
frequently during my ftay at M'^^'d, an in- 
viution which I took care to make the belt ufa 

of. 

I perceived foon with aftonifhment and joy, 
that 1 was getting nearer the mark much fooner 
than I had expected at Grft. Though I am of 
£ 4 opinio 



ie4 THE VICTIM OF 

opmitmthat the viGbly growing favour of thcfe 
two courtiers was partly founded on perfona] at- 
tachment, yet the Iriftiman had not been mifta- 
ken wheri be told me, that the relation which 
«ifted between myfelf and Vafcon*ellos wouM 
render the aecefs to their confidence cafier. 
Sum**ez, the Secretary of State, enjoyed the 
moll intimate confidence of the Niniftcr, atid 
was related to Vafcon'eJIos. Therefore tb« 
friendthipof the latter paved forme the road to 
Sum*"c2, and the friendlhip of Suni"*«z to 
Oliva'ez. The two Sccrcraries of State were 
the chief adminiftrator* of the government i 
Suni**ez in the council of Sp— n, atMa»**d, 
and Vafcon^'ellos in the council of flalc at 
Lisbon, and confetjucntly were the vice-tyranf« 
of my naiivc country, who jointly executed the 
<JcfLg;ns of 01iv**ez, who in the name of the 
IJJDg of f^ip'^n was at the helm of dcfpotifm. 

That the iTifhman had very well calculated 
thefe concatenations, will appenr by the fuUe- 
quent plan which he founded upon them. I had 
vrotc to Amelia, and Lady Delicr, as Toon as I 
»rlved at M****d, and now received an anfu-er 
from both of them. Every hne of the formev 
breathed heavenly love and ttindnefs ; the tender 
and amiaUc fcntiments of her foul, purified hf 
the trials of misfortunes, were palpably difplayed 
in her letter) as in an unfpottcd mirror. O I 
how many a time did 1 kifs, read, and repcrufe it^ 
tilt at length, what a fwecC delufion of my enrap« 
tured imagination ! I fancied 1 faw the amiable 
writer before me, and and heard from her lips 
the words which were written on the paper-. — 

The following paflagc iu X^dy Dclier's letter 

ftruck me particularly: "1 nehher have read 

Amelia's letter, ror has the read mine ; however, 

if flic has been finccre^ Ihe will have wrote to 

you 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 105 

fou many fon;l things, as I can guefs by her 
grief at your depirtyre, and by the warmth with 
which flie is animated when (he fpeaksof you. 
I ' think that Amolia's tefolution not to marry 
again will be drapt, as foon as the murderer of 
her late Lord ceafes to live, if notfooner. How- 
ever, I would not have you to think that Amelia 
ever has mentioned any thing to that purpofe, or 
that I believe thar a noble fpottefs foul like hera, - 
could harbour fcntimenr> of revenge ; but I fup. 
pofe only that the amiable eathufiaft pc^aps fan- 
cies- ihatthe ghoft of' her murdered Ix)rd will not 
enjoy a perfecft tranquillity and happtnefe; before 
the perpetrator of that villainous deed has re- 
ceived the-juft reward of his atrocious crime. 
Endeavour, my I^rd, to fettle your affairs at 
M3d**d as -foon as poilible, in order to gladden ' 
OUT hearts by a fpeedy return." 

"With regard to the latter point I wrt>te to Ame-' 
lia : " My affairs make a rapid and fuccefaful pro- 
grefs, and I Qiall foon fee your Lady(hip again. 
See Amelia again I What happinefs do thcfe 
words imply! Heavens, how great would my fe- - 
licity be if I conllantly could fix my eyes on the ' 
lovelieft of women I How fuperlativcly happy 
fliouM I be if I were Atbella's brother, in order 
that I could beconftantly about her, and fpeak to 
her ; or her Have, that I could breathe under the 
fame roof with her, follow her every where, ■ 
and anticipate - every wink and every wtQi of 
hers." ' 

I bad been about three weeks at Mad**d wbea 
I vifitcd the minillcr one evening, and found 
him in companywith a perfon who, by hid drefs, 
appeared to be a man of rank. He feemed to be 
Very old and infirm, but conceive my aftonilh- 
raent, when, on approaching nearer, I fancied I 
djfcerned the features of the Irilhman, though 
E 5. every 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



io6 THE VICTIM OF 

tvcfy tiling clfc was fo entirely changed, that he 
appeared to be quite a different perfon ; a wig co- 
vered his head, his dark eye-brows were changed 
into grey, his complexion yellowirh, his voice 
vcak, and frequently interrupted by a heftic 
cough. The minifter met mc with the words : 
<» My Lord Duke, I have the honour to prcfent 
to your Grace the Marchefe Ricieri, who lately 
is returned from a jouTiiey through your native 
country." The Marchefe rofc with ditRculty, 
as it appeared, from his feat, and after recipro- 
cal ciTilitics, and a fhort converfation, took his 
leave. 

My looks followed him with anonifliment to 
the anti-chamber, and I found it extremely diffi- 
cult to conceal my emotions from the miniller, 
who told me that the Marchefe had brought bad 
news from Port*'*!, where the fpirii of fedition 
was faid to be very bufy. Not knowing how far 
I durlt difclofe my thoughts on that head with- 
out blundering upon the delign of the Irilhman, . 
I returned an indiderent anfwer, and endeavour- 
ed to torn the converfation to fome other objeft. 
Fortunately company was announced, I ftaid an 
hour longer, and then took leave. 

On my way to the hotel, fomebody tapped me 
on the (houlder, and a well-known voice faid, 
" I am glad to fee your Grace well." I turned 
round and the Irilhman flood before me, drefTed 
in black, and wrapt in a fcarlet cloak. I was 
feized with aftoniihment. «* I give you joy, my 
liOrdi" faid he in a friendly accent, *'h6wdo 
your affairs go on ?" " Extremely well I" Ire- 
plied, adding after fome hefitation, *< will you go 
with me to my hotel ?" He accepted my invita- 
tion. 

" Be fo kind," faid he when we were arrived 

at my apartment, " to take care that we are not 

inter- 

Dg^JnGOOglC 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 107 

interrupted, nor otrerheard !" This preamble . 
made me cxpefl to hear important matters, and 
Iwas not deceived. Having communicated to 
him how I had fuccecdcd with Oliva'cz, and 
Suma*ez, he approved my diligence and difcre- 
tion, adding, " it is now time to come nearer to 
the point. 1 am going to entruft you with two 
commilTionst both of which arc equally i.-npor- 
tant. 

«' Let me hear what I am to do 1" 
" Firftof all yoit muft endeavour to prompt " 
the minifter to publifli a royal cdi£l, by which 
the Port'^'^e nobility arc ordered, under the 
penalty of iofing their eftates, to enter into the 
ihilitary fervice of Sp'^n."' 

« Good God, what do you mean bythar?"' 
«• Then," he added, without noticmg' my ei- 
clamation, ," you mud advife the minifter to fcize 
the perfon of the Dike of Brag'^zii." 

Iftared at the Irilhman. " Then tlic revolu- - 
tion is to be given up !" faid I, after a paufc of 
anxious aftonilhment. 

« Not at all, it rather is to be promoted by ■ 
thefc means."" 

** I cannot comprehend you;" I exclaimed, 
" you are cither counteracting your own plan ; 
or the revolution will be dcftroyed in the hud." 

«' Mf good Dultc, onc> muft frequently appear 
to counterad a plan in order to carry it into exe- 
cution with greater fafety. I will explain myfelf 
more diftinftly." So faying, he pufhed hia chair 
clofer to me, and continued in a lower accent : 
" Let us take a ftiort view of the fituation of 
your country. Not to mention the enormous lofs 
of its pofTefTions abroad, which it has fuffered 
during the fubjeftion to Sp""n, the interior ftatc 
of the empire is deplorable beyond defcnption. 
The King of Sp"*n looks upon Tour country as 
a con- 
- ■ , L-.. u.-.i,Goog[c 



ic* THE VICTIM OF 

« conqucTcd province, and talces the greateft 
pains to cxhauft it entirely, in order (o keeptt in- 
inactivity with more eafe ; the royal revenues of 
Port"*"l are either didribvted among the favou- 
rites of the King, or mortgaged ; more than 300 
gallies, and 20C0 cannons have been carried to. 
Sp"*n ; the nobility are injured by the moll un- 
jud demandi '; the clergy mud fee their benefices 
in the poOeflion of foreignera ; the people are 
beggared by enoimous taxes — in fhort matteri 
have almoll been carried to the higheftpitch. 
$0 much the better, for this is a (ign that our un- 
dertaking is ripe for execution. Let us ftrain the- 
ftrings a Iktie more, and they muft break." 

■< And what then !" faid I with ardour.. 
" General commotion, and at the fams time uni- 
vcrfal confuGon will be the confequence ;. and it. 
is vciy obvious that thus my country will not re- 
gain its liberty, but rather be plunged in a more 
opprcffive ftate of fiavery. If the people arc not 
fupported by the nobility, and both parties not 
united under one common head^ the furious uti- 
bridled populace will rage "till the Sp*"»(h goads- 
ihallhavc reduced them again to obedience." 

" You have divined my moft fecrct thoughts,"" 
the Irifliman replied. I was as if dropt from the 
clouds. '* Then I have entirely mifcoaftrued 
youT words," I replied, " I am to endeavour to- 
obtain an edifl in virtue of which the Port****ze 
nobility are to be bound to enter in the fcrvicc of 
Sp"*n, under the penalty of lofing their eftatc s; 
I am to advifc the minifter to feizc the Duke of 
E. a ? Did vou not fay fo ? ' 

" Exaaiy fo?" 

*• However, if ilic P — c nobility (hould enter 
into the Sp*"*fli fervicc, how arc they to be ac- 
tive "m tlie fcrvice of l/^eir country ? if the Duke of 
Bra***za (hould bs feiz(d, hovv will it be poffible 
,-, .that 

ctv.-.ii,LTOOglC 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 109 

thu he fhould become the head of the confpisz- 
tors?" 

" Heaven forbid your j^ Ihould be realized !" 

" But why tlie preparations for it ?. Indeed t. 
do not comprehend you." 

" You foon fliall ; only fuficr me to<go on^. 
The people muIV be fuppottcd by the acce0ion of 
the nobility and clergy, and all panics guided- 
by a common leader t thus far you are perfectly 
light :-and inorderto eife£t that purpofe every 
preparation has been made, and the general 
commotion 'w4il be.efFefled in a harmonious and 
regular manner, if ever it can be cfTefted. But, . 
dearell I>uke, you look upon what may happen, 
as already cxiding. I was faying jud now, that 
matters-have a/mo^ been carried to the hghefl. 
pilch I' one moment of rafliiicfs may ruin the 
molt prudent plan. It is true, that the people 
and the clergy are waiting anxioufly for the iig- 
nal of a revolution } however the nobility are not 
fufGciently.ezarperated. Once already have they 
been ordered to enter into the fervice of Sp**ii 
againft the Cata"*nian5 ; , however they were fa-v 
tisfied to evince their difpleafure filently, by 
obeying the cdi£t reluctantly and negligently. If. 
in this iituation of affairs that edif^fhould be re- 
newed, and the tranfgreifois puniflied by the fei-- 
zure of their ellates, their refentmcnt, which 
is burning under the embers, will, foon burft 
out into a blaze ; . then all the Itates of the 
tmpire will be equally provoked, and it will be 
fealonable for the Duke of Bra"*»za to give 
the fignal for a general .commotion." 

"But is not this very Duke to be feized and 
imprifoned ?" 

" Neither is he to be feized, nor are the Por- 

t»*"*ze nobility to enter into the Spa*"ih fer- 

vigc, but both parties arc to be provoked, by 

Ae 



iio ^ THE VICTIM OF 

the fcrereft opprcflien in fuch' a manner that 
their rerentment.may breat out into open te- 
volt," 

** His father would not have wanted fuch a 
violent incitement ; the Duke has, however, in- 
herited very little of the fpirit of his parent*." 

<* A rafli refolution is not always the firtncft»- 
nor is a precipitate deed always the befl. And 
befides, the undertaking of the Duke of Sra- 
***za is of fuch a nature, that he rifles nothing 
Jefs than his own and his family's welfare ; it' 
requires therefore a moje mature conGdcration." " 

" But if he ftiould flinch back ]" 

" His retreat mudhe entirely cut off, and this" 
is to be effidled by the execution of the fc- 
cond commiflion ^Wnch I have given you." 

<< How am I to underfland this ?" 

'* You think this meafure would be too harfh • 
and violent, however it is not a mere arbitrarv ' 
artifice, but adapted to the Gtuatlon in which, 

• TIwGrandnuther of the DolEcof Brag'*za had llrea- 
ij attempted to enforce h«r claim to the throne ( Ihe wa*. 
howeTer, obliged to yield to fu3>erior power. Hii father was 
burr To mtich at the lofi of (he crown, thai he had formed 
the defign to tei»e the King of Sp"n when he topped st hi* 

talice at Vi*>ciofa, on hi4 journey to IJ'hen, andiiot to fet 
ini at liberty till he fhould haie renounced to him the crown 
of Por**«al. Hi» friends teprefented to him how impoflibk 
it would be to xcomplifh thi) dcGgn ; however be could not 
be perfuailed to AdiSt from M farther attemptiof getting 
poScflionof the fceptrc ol PDr***a], and hii people were frc* 
quently inltigated by him to quarrel with die Kin^'i Offi* 
ceri at Lifbon, on which bccafion the poptihce enBced clear- 
ly how flrong their attachment to the lamilr of Bri"«»za 
wai. But matteri were never pulhed any farther, the proper 
time when the crown of Por«"'al fliould be reBored to it» 



hi) reafon wag difordered. He Tpoke conftantly of « 

»rmi, and ordered hit family, on his death bed, to bury him 

with B.oyalpomp, which w>i afiually done, thongbin fecret. 



the 

D5iz;jnGooglc 



MAGICAL DELUSION. iii 

tlie Duke of Bra***za is at prcfent. The mi- 
nifter of Sp*"n is not ignorant of the fermen- 
tations in PoT***al, and fufpctling the Duke 
to be the chief fource of them, his principal at- 
tention is direflcd to him — But what could Oli- 
va*cz have attempted againft him as yet ? Open 
force would hare been fruitlefs, and not onljr 
forwarded the general revolt, but alfo jullified 
the anions of the Duke. He was therefore forc- 
ed to hare rccourfe to art. At firft he confer- 
red the government of Mi'an upon the Duke, 
in order to hare an opportunity of getting him 
in his power; however that kecn-fighted noble- 
man declined that honour, pretending not tO' 
have fufficicnt knowledge of the country to ac- 
quit him felf honourably of a trull of fb much, 
importance; Soon after the minilter found ano- 
ther opportunity of laying a new fnare. The 
King of Sp^'ti having, rcfolvcd to chaftife the 
rebellious Catal'nlans in pcrfou, the Duke was 
Tcry civilly invited to accompany him in the 
field; but he begged to be excufed, alledging^ 
that this would be attended with great expenccs, 
and that his finances were very low. However 
01iva**z was not difcouraged by this refufal, 
and has lately made a third attempt. A rumour 
having been fpread all over the country, that a- 
Fre'ch flfiet was approaching the coafls of Por- 
•••al, probably with a view to make a de&eht, 
Oliva^ez conferred upon the Duke an almoll un- 
limited power to make the requifite preparations 
againft die impending linvafion. and particularly 
to review all the pous^ to fortify and to earrifon 
them. Meanwhile the Sp"*ilh Admiral, Don 
Lopez Ox'*co had received fecrct orders to car- 
ry his fleet to a port where the Duke fliould be, 
to invite him to review it, and when he fliould 
have feized him, to fail with his prifoner to 
Sp**n. 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



ill THE VICTI.M OF 

Sp**n. This plan was however rendered abor- 
tive by a dreadful ftorm, which difpcrfed the ■ 
fleet, and forced the Admiral ro delift from hit - 
delign of vifiling the Port'»»«"zc ports. No. 
new attempt has been miidc fince, . and the mi- 
nifter is fjlcntly hatching other artifices. Yet 
this calm is, . without comparifon, more dread- 
ful than all the attempts which have been made. . 
I know that he has an emiflary in Port**"l, who i 
watches fecietly every flcp of the Duke*, whofe - 
liberty and life are in imminent danger. The ■ 
ruin of the head of the con^iracy would be a. 
rooTtal blow to the whole revolutionary fociety ; : 
even the imprifonmcntoF the Duke would un- 
nerve the hands of the confpirators. If, there- • 
fore, the revolution is to take place, the Duke 
muft be fccored againfl the fecret machinations . 
of the miniflcr; I fay the firret machinations,., 
for if thej Oiouid be carried on publicly, as it 
has been the cafe as yet, his fnatce may eafily ■ 
be evaded. For which reafon it will be matter 
of great importance to perfuade the miniftcr to • 
carry on his attempts in the ufual way, and to • 
effcdl this will be in your power. Nay, you,, 
yourfelf muft frame and direft the deCgns upon 
the Duke."' 

«' I fear," faid I to the IriQtman, ** you ex- 
peft more from my feeble eKeitions than I Hiall 
be able to perform." 

"^Hear firft my plan! You. arc to go, the 
day after to-mOrrow, to Oliva'ez, and to inform 
him that you have received intelligence of the , 
commotion in Por'^'al— " 

" Befidcs," I interrupted him, " Oliva'ca 
has told me to^ay that he has received an ac- 
■ count of thefe commotions from a certain Mar- 

* Thu tmsSarj will fem be iutro<lu«cd to tbc reader. 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 113 

ehefe Ricieri, who it returned from his travels 
through Por"»»al," 

" So inuch the better !" he replied, without 
returning my inquifinve look, or changing his 
countenance at the name Riccieri, " h much 
the better ! then you have a prefacer, to whofc 
iittroduftion you can link your difcourfc. Tel!, 
therefore, the minifter, that the letter which 
you have received from Por*'*al makes it very 
plain to you, why the Duke had declined all the 
invit^itions which the court had given him. Oli- 
va"ez will reqacft you to explain thefe words, 
and then you mult reply, that you fufpecl the 
Duke of Brag**za to avoid the neighbourhood 
of the Court, becaufc he ii fenliblc he has de- 
fcrved the refentmeiirof the iCing by bid diHoy- 
alty. At (he fame time you mult add, thit you 
arc very forry to be obliged to dechrc agaiiifl fo 
near a relation as the Duke j that, however, 
the voice of your confcience has more weight 
with you than that of confanguinity, and that 
your allegiance 10 the King of S,)**o and your 
country, which has been rtrduced to the greatelt 
ciiftrefs by the conltant internal commotions^ 
does not fuffer you any longer to regard as a 
friend, the man who was the chief caufe of all 
thefe troubles. Thus you will gain the confi- 
dence of the minilter, and he will alk you what 
mcafures for feizingthe Duke you think would 
be molt proper and fafe. Take hold of that op- 
portuiiity 10 convince the miniitcr that, and tor 
what reafon, violent meafures ofany kind, would 
produce the worft confequences. Approve of 
the means which the wifdom of his policy has 
already adopted as the fafelt, by which the Duke 
ougnt to be perfccuted till no farther evafion. 
fltould be left tor him. Oliva*cz will defire you 
to give him your opinion mote at large, and 
tlwa, 



114 THE VICTIM 0*" 

then you muft addrcfs him to the following pur- 
pofe : — « I am of opinion that you ought to in- 
form the Duke of the misfortune which has 
befallen the fleet, and to charge him, under the 
pretext that this had rendered the fituatjonoF 
the empire very perilous, with the commilTion to 
iufpefl all the ilrong places of the kingdom^ 
and to fortify them where he fliall think it re- 
quifjte. At the fame time you will do well to 
order all the commanders of the fonificd towns 
to feize the Duke as fectetly as pofliblc. In 
order to prevent any evaGona under the pretext 
of want of money, you muft fend htm, at the 
ftme time, a fum fufhcient for defraying the cx- 
pences of his journey." 

" But fuppofe," faid I, *' tins propofal fhould 
be accepted, how could the Duke of Brag*'za 
'cftape the fnare ?" 

** Can we not apprife hirn of hi* daugcr ? If 
he cannot fmd means to efcape the fnare by dint 
of art, he mult have recourfc to open force, and 
CI U to arms. Thus the revolution, will begin, 
and our chief aim be attained." 

■( One can predidt," the Irifhman continued^ 
•* with fomc degree of certainty, that Oiiva'ez 
will not reje^ ttiat propofal, which is nothing 
but a continuation of his former plan, and, of 
courfe, will flatter his conceit. As foon as you 
Ihah have carried this point, you mull endcavoui: 
to eScit the promulgation of the edi<fl againft 
the nobility i which will be no dIfHcult talk, if 
you p-etend to have been informed by letters 
from l*ot"*al, that the major part of the no- 
bility is entirely devoted to the Duke, and wilt 
fupport him if a revolt ftiould break out. — Htnce 
you may draw the conclufuin that the fermenta- 
tion in Por''*'al will never ceafc, and fhe wifell 
meafures againU him, though ever fo fuccelUuI, 
will 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 115 

will not have the deflred effeft, while the no- 
bility (hall not be employed fomcwhcre elfc, and 
forced to fubmic to the edi£t by which they arc or- 
dered to enter into the fervice of Sp*"n. I advife 
you, at the fame time, to add, that the indulgence 
which has been fhewn to thofe who have re- 
fufed to obey the proclamation of the Court, 
will render the nobility mure daring, and the 
Duke of Brag**za more dangerous. In ftiort, 
you mud exert every power of perfualian to 
incite the miniiler to lenew and to enforce that 
idia." 

After a fliort paufe the Iri^man added :■ 
<* This advice would appear fufptcioua, if pro- 
pofed by any other perfon but you.felf. You 
have gained, already, his confidence to fuch a 
degree, that it will derive additional itrength 
from your apparent zeal. And indeed every 
thing that can contribute to remove all traces of 
fufpicion from you concurs in yoiir perfon ! The 
propofals which you arc to make have not only 
the appearance of deltroying the deCgn of the 
t)uke and the confpiracors, but you have alfa 
been on your travels when they were fabrii:ated» 
and of courfc, cannot be fufpcfted of having 
the lead Ihare in them. Wnile you have been 
here your time has been fpent in amufements 
and diverfions, how could you, therefore, be 
fuppofed to have been capable of paying any 
attention to deep laid intrigues of Itate i On the 
contrary, the miniller is no ftranger to your fa< 
ther'i fidelity to the King of Sp»«in, and to 
the fecret hatred which your family hartxturt 
againit the Duke of Brag"*za ; how ■could, 
therefore, your propofal appear to him otherwifc 
than natural and Cncere? Your friendfhip for 
Vcla3*os alone would be CuScient to make him 
believe fo." 



it6 THE VICTIM OF 

*' I need not rcmini] you," added the Irilh- 
man, vrlicn he was going to leave me," " not to- ■ 
forget to intcteft the Secretary of Slate, Suma- 
•c?, for your tranfaflions." ■ 

" But fuppofc," I replied, " I (hould acquit 
hijfclf of my charge to your fatisfaftion, how 
am I to conceal the matter from my father ?" 

The Irilhman replied after a momentary con^ 
fideraiion : " If the minifler fliould approve 
your propofats, you mud requeft him frankljr 
not tomeniion anything to the Marquis, pre- 
tending to intend to furprife him in an agreea- 
ble manner, by an oral account, when the whole. 
afTair fliall be happily concluded." 

" Before he took leave, he enjoined me to- 
be circumfpe^, courageous, and adlivc. 

I cannot iay wheihei it was owing to the exe- 
cution of this advice, to the facility of the talk, 
or to favourable accidents, that I carried my 
point without difficulty. The minifler approved 
my plan; the Duke of B — —a received the 
above mentioned order along with 40,000 ducats^, 
and the cdift concerning the nobiiily was renew- 
ed, However, the Duke of B — a again es- 
caped the fnaie. He did, indeed, execute the- 
orders of the Sp**'*(h court, travelled all over 
Por"***l, and ohfervcd every where how the, 
people were devoted to him ;. the money he had 
received, ajid the power that was enirufted to. 
him, enabled him to gain many friends, and he 
entered the fortified towns fo well efcorted,. 
that none of the Sp***Ih governors dared to 
feize him. 

The Irifliman who gave me. this information^ 
Movided me at the fame time with inftruflions. 
now to afl i the minifter fliould complain of 
the mifcarriage of my plan, which foon happen- 
ed. OliTa'cz acquainted me. very peevilhly. 



MAGICAL -DELUSION. 117 

with the bad fuccers of our undertaking. " We 
may yet carry our point," I replied, after fome 
refleftion, with feeming unconcern. " If you 
wilh to purfue your plan, you may ealily lay a 
new fnare for him, from which the Duke will 
not be able to extricate himfelf. You have the 
bell opportunity of feuding him an order to re- 
pair to Mad**d, and to make to his Majelly 
an oral report of the ftate of Port**"!." 

The minider approved of this adYiCf, and 
carried it into execution without delay. Tiie 
Duke of B— -a, who was well aware that the 
order from the Sp*'*(h court could not be de- 
clined any longer, fent his Chambeilain to 
Mad*"d in order to hire a palace, to engage 3 
number of Icrvants, and to make every prepa- 
ration for his pretended arrival, but nevercheleft 
did not come. One time he pleaded ill health, 
at another time want of money, and at lall, 
wifhed to Itnow what rank he was to hold at 
Mad'**d, However, I was fo fortunate as to 
guide the miniftcr in fuch a manner that every 
obllacle was removed at ialt, and the Duke re- 
ceived 6000 ducats for defraying the cxpences of 
his journey. 

•' Now," faiJ the Irifhman to me, '* the Duke 
will find it impoflible to Ihift any longer, and 
cither muft repair to Mad"*d, which he will 
take care not to do, or give the Cgnal for the 
revolution. Tour bufinefs, ray Lord, is finiHi- 
ed, and nothing further ""ill be required of you 
than the ftridtcll fecrecy. When your colintr^ 
will be free, we (hall meet again, and then 
you may cxpeft to fee all my promifes accom- 
pliO»ed." 

I thanked him, and when be was going to 
leave me, alked him» "how does our loyal 
hermit do ?" 

.1 He . 



ii8 THE VICTIM OF 

" He— is well, and you (hall heat from 

him as foon as the Duke ofB a fliall have 

difpoflcfTcd the King of Sp — n of the throne of 

r— t — 1." 

" But my old friend " 

'* WillToon prefs you again to hisbofom," 

•« And Amelia?" 

" Confidciing the terms on which you already 
are with her, you will not be in want of the 
alEllance of my power." So faying, he toolt a 
friendly leave of me. 

It was indeed high time that the Itiibman re- 
leafed mc from my engagement, for my flay at 
Mad— d began -to grow extremely trkfome to 
mc. An irrcEftiblc power urged me to return 
to her who had inthratled me with magic bonds. 
My reparation from her, and the letters I re- 
ceived from the dear woman, had heated my 
paflion to the highefl degree. Her letters, 
breathing nothing but tendcrncft and aScflion, 
were indeed entirely dcftitute of that fiery im- 
petuoGty of love which chara£lerifcd minej 
however, this was jult adding fuel to the flame, 
which confumed mc. I felt that I could not 
live without her. She did not indeed encourage 
my hope ofgctting poflcfFion of her hand, yet 
Ihc did not repel it entirely, and fcvcral hints 
which Lady Dclicr had given mc, fcrved to fup- 
port it. 1 was already computing with rapture 
the cfFefl: which my uncxpeflcd arrival would 
produce on Amelia, and made the ncceflary pre- 
parations for my return to her without apprifing 
her of it ; however, my foul preceded thcie pie- 
paiations, and only the leflcr part of it M-as re- 
ihaining at Mad— d; no wonder, therefore, 
that the letters of my father, and the Maiquis 

of Fcrei*a, which recalled me to Port !, 

had no effect upon mc. 

" I cannct 



MAGICAL DEIUSION. 119 

*1 cannot divine',' the Mar<]His wrote to me, 
'what may have indnced your father to return 
this year to the capital much eirticr than ufual. 
However, I can tell you that you will fcarccly 
know him again when you Oiall fee him. Ever 
fincc he pretends to have feen the ghoft of 
Count Santeval, he is (hanged moft wonderfully. 
Heisinaftate of utter apathy, gloomy and ic- 
ferved, and I may truly fay, fuperflitious. He 
avoids, fmcc his late illnefs, as much as decency 
will permit, all converfation, even mine. There 
is but one perfon who has free accefs to him, 
and feems to have poflefled himfelf entirely of 
his confidence. Let me give you a defcriptiOn 
of that man. 

* Imagine to yourfelf an elderly man above the 
middle fize, wiih 3 long, thin face, a yellow 
complexion, a ftrongly furrowed brow, hollow, 
fmall, and red eyes, and ilaring, almod dead- 
ened features, which, when he' fmlles, change 
into a kind of grinning. This phyfiognomy, 
of which no faithful verbal defcriplion can be 
given, and which has been ftamped in Ti mod 
unfavourable manner by nature's forming hand, 
is fofiencd by an affefled air of piety i however, 
if examined minutely and narrowly, peeps with 
increafed horrors through the borrowed veil. 
This countenance appears to me like a dreadful 
myllery, and I cannot behold it without fecret 
terror. The tout enfemble of that man exadly 
fits this head — a fueaking gait— a Hooping neck 
—a grey coat — but you muft and will fee him 
yourfelf. I hate him from the bottom of my 
foul, and think that he is not capable of a good 
aO:ion, and that his mere prefence muftbe fuih- 
cient todifpel even from tlie hearts of others 
every noble feniimcnt. Ic would be a mylkry 
c4v=.JnGooglc 



no THE VICTIM OF 

to me, how your father can converre with .hins 
if I did not know that he has been blinded by 
hit hypocrify and devout difcourfe). That 
■nan (he calli himfelf Alumhradt) pretends to 
be regenerated, and talks a great deal of the gifts 
of fupernatural light. Your father who take* 
for fterting truth whatever comes from his lipE* 
feemg to be more charmed with him €»ety day. 
O haftcn, my friend, to deliver your father 
from this ignoble, and, as I fear, dangerous 
enchantment. I think that an emotion like 
that which the fight of you, after fo long a fepa- 
rition, mud caufe in the miod of vour father, 
will be neceflary to roufe him from nia apathy, 
fcc. &c. &c.' 

My lltuaiion rendered this letter, as I have 
already mentioned, ineffe£lual. liie apprchenp 
(ions of the Marquis appeared to me exaggerated ; 
his unfavourable judgment of Alumbrado, ori- 
ginating ftom phyfiognomical reafoiis unjult, 
and uncharitable, and my father old and fcnfi- 
ble enough to fcc and avoid the danger, if any 
fliould be exilling. I deemed the return to 
the Counters much more prelling than the jour- 
ney to P' " I, took leave of Oliva*cz and 
Sunia*ct, afluring thcni that the affair concern- 
ing the Duke of B— — a had been pulhed to 
a point where it foon would come to a crilis 
without ou» affillance. They were of the lame 
opinion, and difmifled me in a very obliging man- 
ner. 

I had already made every preparation for 
fetting out ilie next morning, when a letter 
from Amelia and Lady Delicr defeated my dc- 
{ign. The former informed me lliat a prelFing 
letter from her uncle, who was on the brink of 
eternity, and defired lo fee her once more be- 
fore his death, tendered it necelTary for her to 
haflen to Cadiz. In the letter of theBaronefi, 
which. 



MAGICAL DELUSION, iti 

which, amongft otfaera, contained the dircAion 
of the Countefs at Cadiz, the portrai tof Ame- 
lia was inclofed. 

Amelia's ponrait ! the image of thofe hea- 
fenljr charms, the contemplatioo of which 
would afFord delight even to angels, and the 
I'lfelefs imitation of which filled my foul 
with rapture. O I with what an unfpeakable 
delight di|i mj entranced eyes imbibe them f 
how did the light of them tecall to my enraptured 
bofom all -thofe fweet emotions which the prcfence 
of the original had formerly excited in my bread. 

This foftcned the blow which Tcpellcd me fo 
fuddenly from the port of happinefs which I 
fancied I had almoft reached. Alas I this blow 
infli^ed a deep wound on my hean, which at 
once found all the fweet pcefentiments of meet- 
ing again changed into the namelefs throes of a 
new feparaiion. However, the fight of the 
picture reprefenting to me the abfcnt darling 
of my heart, and the fecret meaning of ^hat 
gift gave me fome CTmfort, and inlputfd mc 
with new hopes. Who elfc but my Amelia 
could have fent mc that prefent ? Her letter 
did, indeed, contain only a few diftant hintsi 
and the pi£lure was enclofed in that of Lad^ 
Oelttit i yet this did not mifguide me, for I was 
too welt acq^aitited with Amelia's delicacy. 
I refolved now to return to my father, and 
to prepare him for my union with the Coutt- 
tcfs, 

I a^ed wifely in furprifing him by my fudden 
arrival, for othfrwife be would, probably, not 
have leccived mc with that kindnels to which 
my unexpeded appearance impelled him.< No 
fooner were the firft moments of mutual fond- 
uefs palt, when he laid, with apparent coldncfs. 

Vol. II. F " the 



itt THE VICTIM OF' 

" the world muft hare had ftrj intfiftiWe diarnrt 
foryflu?" 

«' The charms of novelty, my dear father." 

" it mud have been very painful to you 
to return to your paternal houfe ; for ti feemb 
you had almoft forgot your way homeward." 

« I had much to fee, and have experienced l 
great deal I" 

" I do not doubt it ; you have had very little 
leifure for thinking of your father." 

I endeavoured to nfute thii reproacb which 
1 had expeAeJ, and fuccceded preity well. The 
rMarquis grew warmer and more affeflionate ; 
lie ei)i}uiTed after my tutor and Count Clairval. 
- It (eemed to wound him deeply that I could give 
no fatisfadlc^ account of die former. 'With 
regard to, the latter, I told him that important 
family awaits Jiad called him from me unex- 
jwfledly. 

My father appeared thctv not to be in a favour' 
able .difpofitiqn for lUleuing .to an account of 
my .conneflioB »'ith the Countefs, and how 
ilr^iigly Abevej the impulfe of my heart prefTed 
jne to fpesk AD that fubjefV, yet prudence advif* 
,ed me to wait for a<nore favourable oppoTtunity4 
The Jollowin^g morning appeared to mc propiti- 
A9if &>r that purpofe. My father was very cheer- 
JEtUf md I contrived being furprifed by him with 
.Amelia's pifture in my hand. 

•■ What have you there t" he aflied me. 

•' The piAure of the Dowager Countefg of 
pairval.' 

■• How fax is. flic related to your travelling 
companion ?" 

*< She was married to hie brother.* 

*• So young, and already a widow ?" faid be, 

locking at thepidure} *'I diould have mifta- 

^en 



MAGICAL DELUSION. isj 

ken it for the picture of a girl of feventeen 
years. Howercr, the paimers ar« ufed cd 
flatter." 

" I aiTure you ihe origtnal poReOes numberlcCi 
charms which h»ve efcaped the artift." 

" Then the CountcTs nauft be extremeljr haad- 
fome." 

" She is an aflgel." 

■< i'he face is more intcreHing tlian haad- 
fomc.* 

" Handfome and interefting to a high degree." 

<• You are in love with her." 

" My father i i " 

«• I thould be very {oitv at it." - 

'• For what reafon r" I aflccd, thimder- 
ftrucU 

" The young Princefs of L"""** — what d» 
you think of her }'' 

" I don't like her at all." 

'< This would grieve me cxtrflincly, for I hare 
chofcnhcrfoT your wife ?" 

•• My heart has already chofen. Tour con- 
fcnt, my father — ■" 

" The Countefs of Clairval ? Never ! 

" Ton don't know her. Her family and for- 
tune are very connderable." 

J< I hope you will not liken her, in that refpeft* 
to the Princrfs of L»«»» i" 

" Not at all ! but the amiable cbaraflei of the 
Couiitcfs — " 

" The character of the Princefs is withont 
blame. My dear fon, conlider the fplendor 
and the honour wluch our family would derive 
from that alliance. Confidet that you will ren- 
der me happy by that union. When you, by 
my dcfire, broke off your connexion with a i^r- 
taia Barbis, you revived my hope of feeing 
you allied to the family of L*'"* i do not 
F 2 thwart 



ii4 THE VICT IM OF 

thwait my plan by a new love, do not crofs my 
fondcft withes- You are, indeed, your own 
maftcT, and may chufc foryourfelf; you muft, 
however, not expefl my confent and & father 8 
blefling, if you do not marry the Princefs of 
X*""". I am fehfible that it will give you pain 
to renounce the Countcfs, and for that reafon 
will not prefs you farther at prcfcnt. I thall 
not defire you to come to a refolution before the 
end of fcven weeks. Till then, do not mentloD 
a word about the matter." 

Seeing that 1 was going to reply, he tool; me 
by the hand. "Be a man," faid he, " who 
knows how to conquer juvenile paflions. Gain 
my regard as you have gained my atFeftion. 
My life is joylefs, do not make mc hate it. My 
deat: fon, I have facrificed much for you, facri- 
fice now in return a little for your father !" So 
paying, he left me. 

Ol why did he requcd me in ytti-A a manner 
>to make him a facriOce which would have ren- 
^lered me mifcrablc • 1 wilhcd then the firft time 
in my life that he had fpoken to me in a menac- 
ing, domineering, or only in a harfti tone^ then 
I (hojild have had a pretext ^or refilling him 
dind enforciqg my own will. But how could I 
>iavc had the courage of contradifling that ten- 
der ibUcitation, that entreating perfuafion of a 
father. And yet, was I not necellitaied to do 
-fomething wotfe, to countera^ my parent.' I 
never felt more flrongiy than at that moment, 
-that it was utterly impofTiblefor me to renounce 
tbc poffeflion of Amelia. Alas ! never was a 
fituation more unfortunate than mine, and nC' 
ver has a human heart been reduced to fucha 
dreadful conflict with itfelf by two people fo 
dear as my father and Amelia were to me. 

^,«i^I^kei 



MAGICAL DELUSION. ' i»^ 

riookcd around with weeping eyes in fearck 
ofa pcrfon to whom I could uriboCom m^ 
fl'raltened heart. I went to the Maiquis of 
Fcrei*!". 

I had not inrgrmed him of my return t he 
uttered a. fcTcam of joy when he (aw me enter 
his apartment. However, his faittfa^ion at 
my return made room to-forrow, when I ac- 
quainted him with my deplorable Gtuation. 
" Yes, my friend !" faid he, after he had 
viewed me fomc minutes with looks of pityf 
**ifit is in your power to fubduc that paffion,- 
then let me implore you—" 

"Don't finifh tliat fentence I" I intertupteil ' 
him, " it is impoflible I" 

"If that U the cafe, then only two ways are' 
left to you to atttain the confcnc of your fa-- 
ther ; one of which ii tedious and rugged, but 
ftraight." 

" Name it !"" 
- ** Tbu. muft endeavour to work upon the 
nerves of 'the paternal heart in fuch a manner, 
that his afFc^ion for you gets the better of hia 
ambition." 

*• And the fccond — " 

•• Is a bye-road which will lead you foon and 
' fafcly to the marlc — ferpents are, however,' 
lurking on that road, and lygers lying in am- 
bulh— " 

•* Dont't naine it !** 

** I will name it, in ord««'-t&-caution you 
againft it •—it is called — Alumbrado. O my 
friend!" Iqaeezing . my h^nd affectionately* . 
*• go take the ftraightelt road." 

MAKqniS Of Fiaii'A. 

F J "That 



ij6 the victim of 

" That I will, you have given me 9 TCry bad 
ehaiader of that Alumbiado.'" 

- And would not retract a TyHablc of what 
I have wrote." 

" Where is he, I have not yet fecn him." 

*' He is abroad.* 

•* I am curious to get ac<^aiiitcd with him.* 

*' Don't come near him, left be eatch you in 
the fame fnatc in which he has caught your fa- 
tbet.*' 

<' Fear nothing, I {hall endearouT to delivei 
my father from that Oiameful captivity." 

"O! if you could doit! But be on your 
guard, led he whom you are going to draw out 
of the pit, drag you after him into the abyfs." 

I promifed ii, and he cbpfed me in his arins> 

Previous to mjr departure from P-- 1, I 

bfid promifed the Marquis to keep a journali 
and to inJ'ert the mofl remarkable incitjcntiy 
which 1 wai to communicate to bim after my 
return. He encjuired now after that joumaL 

" It abounds with remarkable incidents," 
Ircplied, " and you will learn ftrange things on 
feruling it : I have not mentioned a fy liable of 
them in my letters 10 yojii jn order to furprit; 
you. However, you mull curb your cudoGtj 
till 1 flail have arranged my papers." 

The Marquis confented to my requeft. 

" My noble friend ! you will forgive me that 
artifice. It was a mere pretext, in order to 
flay your curiofity tjJl the reTolution Ihould have 
t-jken place ; for J had promifed the [rithman 
to obfcivc tbe ftrifleft filence till then. It wai 
no miflnift that influenced me, but duty im* 
pofed upon me by the promife I had made i 
and the event proved that 1 a^led vifely in do- 
ing fo." '^ ' 

Font 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



MAGICAL DELUSION. ti*f 

Four days after my fitft meeting with my 
friend, the IrUhman (lopped me one evening 
ingoiaghome. His eyes flashed like li^tning, 
his features were didorted, his countenance 
was truly dreadful. "Have you," faid he, 
grinding his teeth, " betrayed the confpiracy to 
Vafcon*clloi ?" •' No." I replied. " Have you 
warned him of the impending danger in fome, 
Other manner ?" *' No.* " Hstc you dirclofe4 
the fecrct lo one of your friends?" *• To no* 
man living." " Can you pledge your honour for ' 
the truth of your declaKition i^' " \ can.'' 

Thcfc queftions fucceeded each other rapidly, 
and he left me with equal halte. I was almoft 
- petrified at this incident. My' adoniOiment, 
however, foon ga*c place to' a different ftnfa--- 
tioti, for I concluded from the words, and ths 
perturbation of the Irilhman, nothing Icl) than 
that the piQt had been ' difcoyered. Tho intelli- ' 
gence which I gained afterwards {ecmed la ' 
conSnn this conjecture. VafconccPos had left 
hi* cattle fuddenly and crofled the river Ta^o* 
acircumftaacethat julUyhad-rjifed ths fufpicion - 
^f his having diicovered the plot through one 
»f his numher4cfi> fpics, and inftantly made pre- 
parations for fcizing the confpirators. Howe- 
ver, this ' apprehenGon was refuted ' that very 
aigiit. VafeoacelTos had only been at a feall, 
aad returned late at night in iiigh fpirjts, and 
preceded-by a banti ofmuliaians, not fufpefliag . 
'that he w«Hld-fao a dead man at that hour the 
fbllowtng night. I myfelf did not imagine that 
the rev9lution would break out fb foon, although 
. ] knev that event to be drawing neat. The daf 
foUovnng* (December t, 1640) at eight o'clock- 
ia thp morning, the confpiratorj repaired in- 
froall dtvUiom nom all parts of the tow^i to ths 
l^caL PiiJace, partly on horfeback,, and partly 
F 4 »'' 



ii8 THE VICTIM OF 

on foot, but mod of them in coaches er chairs, 
in order to .conceal their arms. The namberof 
noblemen, mod of whom were the chiefs of 
their families, amounted to fifty, and that ot 
the citizens to two hundred. As foon as it had 
firuck eight by the clock of the cathedral, Pinto^ 
Rib*"ro, one of the Duke's privy couufelloTS, 
gave the lait fignal for the attack by firit>g a 
pillol, and the conf^iratora marched to the 
diffcTcnt places of their dcllination. 

Pinto Rib*"ro repaired with his troop to the 
palace of Vafcon*ellos, who was fo little pre- 
pared for the uneapedied attack, that he fcarcely 
could get time to conceal him&lf in a cheft. 
However he was difcovered, faluied with a pif- 
tol fliot, ftdbbed with a number of poniards, 
and thrown out of the window amid the touJ 
exclamation : << The tyrant is dead ! long IWc 
liberty and King John, the new Sovereign of 
Port«*»l I" 

The populace who were affemWed, under the 
windows of the palace, repeated thefe words 
with loud acclamations of joy. In order to 
proteft the corpfe againft the fury of the mob, 
the fociety of charity prefiied their way through 
the crowd and earned it away on a bier, which 
is only ufed at the burials of Haves. 

Meanwhile another troop had penetrated into 
the palace of the Vice-Queen. The Arcltbilhop 
of Bra'a, who was with her, and as a near re- 
lation of Vafconcel**s, had alfo been doomed 
to defttuflion, was faved wih great difficulty 
from the fury of the confpirators by the intei- 
ceffion of Miguel d'^l'cida. The Vice-Queen 
turned to the confpirators when they ruthed into 
her apartment, declaring that Vafconce^Ios had 
deferved their hatred, but that they would be 
treated as rebels if they fliould proceed a ftcp 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 119 

farther. She however was told, that fo many 
nobles had not aiTemblcd merely on account of 
a wretch who ought to have teen executed by the 
public hangman, but in order to reHore the crown 
to the Duke of Bra— ^za, who was the Uwful 
owner of it. The Vicc-Quecn began to talk of 
the power which (he had been entnifted with by 
the King of Spa'n. The reply was, that no one 
could be acknowledged as King but Jottn, Duke 
of B— — a. She now offered to run out of the " 
apartment in order to implore the afTiftancc of 
the people } however ' fome of the ' noblemen 
(lopped her, telling her it would be dangerous ' 
to fuSer her to appear before a people who had 
been oppre(red many years, and were highly ex- 
afperated.— " And what could the people do to ' 
me i" fhc faid with fcomful looks. ■ " Nothing 
elfc but throw your Highneft out of the win- 
dow;" one of ' the noblemen replied. The ■ 
ArchbKhop of -Bra'a was fb much exafperated at 
this fpeech, that he feized a fword in order to - 
avengt: the Vice-Queen. - Almet*a however cm- 
biaced anif emreated him to retire, becaufc he - 
had had great difficulty to perfuade the confpira- 
tois to fpare his Jife. This difcovery difarmed '■ 
at once the zeal of- the Prelate. - 

Meanwhile the chief of the< Spani— dt had ' 
been feized,. and the confpirators requeded the - 
Vice-Queen to fend an order to the Commander 
of St. Ge'tofurrcnder i for that caltle, which ^ 
commanded the whole town, was (lill in the pof- 
fefllonof theSpani — ds. The Vicc-Qucen rcfuf- 
cd to comply with their requeft j yet when flie 
wa$ told that her refufal would be the (ignal for 
killing a1i the imprifonedSpani—ds, (he drew up - 
the defircd order, expecting that no attention 
would be paid to it. However the commander ai ■ 
the caAle, who did not dare to defend him(elf, 
F 5 ' ■ executed ' 



130 THE VICTIM OF 

executed her ortI«r litcraQjr, and th« the ttyttn 
was freed of all fear. It h almoft incredible how 
quickly and eafijjr the four troops of the confcdc- 
rate^ took ihc poflt allvtted to them, and ^ainM 
their aim. But much more aQonifliisg is the 
icadinefs and quicknefswitfa which not only the 
whole kingdom, but alfo alt foreign fettleaicnti- 
folloued the example of the capital. The rerolu- 
rion ao foeiMr had begus.(han it was accomplifli- 
ed. It is the only one in its kind, and a dralht 
one never will happen. — ^The execution of it 
proves with how much wifdom it has been de- 
igned and conduced. 

" It was, however, like a fudden clap of 
thunder (o my father, and afic£led him with re- 
doubled force, becaufc it happened fo unei^£t' 
edly. The flow riCng of the tempeft, the Glent 
brewing on the political horizcn had been con7 
ccaled from him by his retirement from the worlds 
and even the vifible forerunners of it, which tf 
laft forced themfelves upan hie eyes, 'appeaT«d to 
him to Ik nothing but the lightning ariGng from 
tranfieiit vaponri. The fudden eruption of tb? 
tempefti and its confequences, almolt petrified 
him. His fil^nt jlupor foon gave room to the 
lootlell n>antfeftationt of hie di&atisfa£)ion ( and 
nothing but repeated pcrfuafiona to yield to ftcrn 
necelTity and lupcrioriiy, could prevail upon him 
to remain quiet. 

His refemment againA the new King remained 
however rankling in his heart ; he did homage 
to the Sovereign with vifible fatisfaclion, allH^ 
a< I fufpefl, not without fccret refervation, while 
I fwore to him (he oath of allegiance, in hopes 
that I (hould foon renew it to the lawful King, who 
Was flill concealed. My country now was deli- 
vered from the Spaa— fli yoke, but ir^ heart te- 
nained iu the thiildom of love. The fctiein' 
^ ■ which 



MAGICAL DELUSrON. ijr 

which it was ch tied with were, indeed, noJiing 
but garlaniU, ut ncverthelefs ftronE;er than 
bonds of .adamant ; how was it therefore to be 
expefied, that I Ihould have been inclined and ■ 
capable to obey my father, who wanted mc to 
break them ? This bondage was fo fweet to me, 
and my Iharing it with an adored woman, ren- 
dered it de^irer to me than the mod unbounded 
liberty ; it was my fole aiidmoit ardentwilhto 
tie the bonds by which we were united (till faftcr. 
But alas \ my father defired me aot to mention a ' 
fyttabie of a union with Amelia^ and- without hia 
fanflion I durft not expert her cocrfent I The 
Marquis of Ferci'a exhauded in vain alt hi; elo. 
quence in order to melt tlie flinty heart uf my 
inexorabte paront.' In.xh>t wretched Htuation I 
■fentfevcral time»forAluinbrado*s aOiftance, yet " 
I always flirunk' back at the idea of owing any' 
obligation FO that man." His fird vifit confirmed ' 
the remarks of the Marquis, and all the civilities 
hclavilhcd upon mc, fcrved only to ftrengthen 
my antipathy againll hiin. My foul was- as - 
gloomy ai my exterior CtUation. The view oi 
my heaven was overdarkened by cloudswhich ' 
grew darker and darker. Only onte ftar was 
gUmmering through the blackncfaof that difmal 
iiight : one tingle itar to which I could dire^ my 
wcepingeyi^s. 1 was confident that the Irtlhman 
could be no Itranger to my comfordefi litualton, 
and would aid me by his power, imagining that 
he now had the beft opportunity of rewarding my 
reliance in him, and would undoubtedly condu^ 
mc over infurmountable obilacks to the promifed 
land of happinefe. Meanwhile the time when 
my father expcfted my declaration fotthePrin- 
«efs of L*** was approaching with gigantic 
fLrides, and thelrlibman didnot appear. Anxi- 
^cty Itrugglcd with my hope. 1 enquired every 
where 



tja THE VICTIM OF 

where for my proiccVor, but I enquired ia Tain, 
Vtd my anxiety encreafed to black defpair. 



CONTINUATION 
By thr MiRQpis oF Fbaei'^. 

Here a great deal is wanting in the memoirs of 
the Dulcc of Cami*a, which I cannot leave un- 
fupptied, othcrwife an important^ part of his hif- 
tory will be loft, and the red reniatn obfcure^ 
To fill up this empty fpace, will be the laft duty 
of friendfhip I fhall be able to perform for that 
unhappy man. I fhall, therefore, continue hi« 
mournful tale, till I can conncfl again ihe thread 
of my narration to the remaining papers of the 
Duke. 

The grief aflailing the heart of my unhappy 
friend foon dcpi^ed ttfelf fo {Irongly in his coun^ 
tcnancc, that I began to tremble for his health. 
Alas! my apprehenlion was but too foon realiz- 
ed, his fufferings being increafed, by an informa- 
tion he received from the brother of Ihe new 
King, to a degree which entirely orercame his 
enfeebled fpirirj. 

•' My dcarcft friend," the Prince wrote to 
him, " I have not difconfinued, fince your de- 
parture, the. inquiries after your tutor, which I 
began when you was here. However, I fiiould 
undoubtedly have continued them with the great- 
cfl prudence and aflivity* without coming any 
nearer to the mark, if the very map whom J had 
been endeavouring to find out had notfpared me 
that fruitlefs taOc. 

'• Tes. 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



MASI-CAL DELUSION. ijj 

" Yes, my frieni], your tutor has pcrfonally 
Turpnfed me in a moft pleaGnjf manner. But, 
O! my friend, moderate your joy when reading 
thcfe lines. The meeting with that dear man 
was like an airy vifion> which appears and va- 
nifhes again after a few moments. ' Your tutor 
came, and went to thoCe realms from whence no . 
mortal can returm 

. " Five days-are now etapfcd, (ince he aftonifli^- 
ed mc, oiie morning, by his- unexpected vilit. 
E Jbon obferved with futprife, that he returned' 
the manifeftations of laj ioy with much redraint,. 
while his inquintive looks- were doubtfully di- 
Te£tcd at me. . His lelaiion foon unfolded this 
myft^y. 

'*■ Will you beliere it,.my friend, that in that 
very night, >^en wc expected him in vain with 
fo much impatience and anxiety, he had been 
taken up-fcactly, carriad off, and impiifoned?' 
He was on his way to my houfe^ when he mot a 
carriagOL which -he nuftook for mine . In this opi- 
nion he was confiTnied, when the coachman llop> 
ped the horfes> and a fervant in my livery opened 
the coach door for him. Two unknown gentle- 
men, who were fitting in the carriage, begged 
him to get. in, pretending to have been fent by 
me to fetch him. He joined ' them without hefi- 
lation, and when the coachman drove out of the 
town gate, inllead of taking the road to myhoufe, 
he was told that one morcguefl was to be fetched. 
This pretended guelt made bis appearance in tlie 
fuburbs, and as focm- as he had got in the carri- 
age, pointed a dagger at the heart of your tutor, 
while his two alToci^tcs feized and tltd his hands. 
All this was eficCled before Count Galvez could 
gain time for rcfii^ance, which would have been 
equally dangerous, and fruitlcfs. He was told 
that if he would fubmit filently to his fate, no 
injury 



134 "PHt VICTIM OB 

JDJury fliould be offcFcd him, but that he wouf<J 
be dabbed without mercy if he (hould cry for af- 
Gdancc; at ihe fame time he was blindfolded, 
and after about half an hour's ride, the carriage 
flopped, when your tutor waa taken out of it, 
and condu&ed over feveral flights of (teps, . 
through long pai&ges, in a room where Ihe wa* 
(but up, and left alone. 

*' When Count Galvez removed the bandage 
from his eyes, he found hlmf«lf in a fpacions 
apartment, lighted with lampi; two fnialler 
roomGwereoneach Me, but none of them had 
windows. Some time after his 'arrival, two malk- 
ed men brought him viAualsand drink, which 
afterwards was repeated every noon and evening; 
He was in want of nothing, liberty excepted. 
He could- not leave his apartments, which were 
bolted on the outlide, and havnig not been able 
to pcrfuadehismalkedaftendanrstoanrweT to his 
qucftions, be could not leam where he was im- 
prifoned. The frequent chiming of bells, the 
tinging of hyms, which feemed to be very near 
him, and feveral other circumllances> made him, 
however, fuppofe that he was confined in a cloi^ 
tcr. 

" It is remarkable, that during his confine- 
mcnt, he was obliged to fit to a fculptor, who 
executed his ftatue fo mafterly, that it rcfembted 
liim in the molt llriking manner. The artill too 
wasmalkcd, and nothing could perfuade him to 
tell for what purpofc the llatuc was deiigned. 

•' At length the wifbcd-for hour of enlaTgemcnt 
arrived. The prifoncr was called up between 
one and two o'clock in the morning, and order- 
ed us to prepare for his departure. He was 
blindfolded and conduced to the ftrcet, where 
he was placed in a coach, and threatened with 
iaAant death if he ihould daie to utter a fyllablc. 
Alter 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 133 

After half an boui's ride, he was taken out of 
tbc coach, upon wbkh his conductors drore 
away at a furious rate. As fooii as be perceived 
that he w« alone be removed the bandage from 
his eyes and found hiinfdf in a lonely part of 
the fuburbs, and with the &rfl dawn of dajr call- 
ed at my boufe^ 

" As Toon as Count Galvev had finifbed liis 
extraordinary tale, I fummoned my fervantSt 
ill order to clear my<'clF from 3 furpicion which 
affiled me fereretyt. and examined them rigo- 
roulljF in his prefcnee. It vai however proved 
that my horfcs and carriages, as wcU as all my 
fervants, had been at home at the hour when 
the Count wu carried off, which rendered' it 
very probable that the Uninov>n mufl have imitat- 
ed my equipage and livery, iii' order to enfaaie 
the Coufit with greater cafe. 

*' Tour tutor enquired much, and with great 
afieflioo after you ; I told him as much as I knew, 
but he was not fatisfied with it. The following 
morning he departed for Ii(b*n, in hopes of 
mcetiag you there, after a long and painful 
feparatioH. I rode on horieback by his carriage 
in order to accompany him a few miles ; tlie 
impatient defire td feeing youfoon made your tu- 
tor urge the poltillian to prels his horfes onward \ 
the fcUow was oficnded at the inceflant {olicita>- 
tiont of the County ani drove flower, which 
vexed our friend to fucb a degree, that he ex- 
horted the poSilliion rather warmly to proceed 
Fader, adding fome menaces. The poftillioa 
being provoked by your tutor's threats, whip- 
ped his horfes furioufly, without taking proper 
notice of the ncighbcnirfaood of the precipioe* 
which you will recoiled ; the animils grew wili^ 
and the carriage W33 precipitated into the abyls. 
The 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



13$ THE VICTIM OF 

The Count fcarccly breathed, when he received^ 
alTiftiuice, and the poftillion was- daftied to pieces - 
againft the rocks. 

'* I ordered inftantly all [Toffibte care to be ta- ■ 
ken of our friend ; -however, a. violent vomiting ■ 
of blood, the confequence of a con tu (ion on' 
hisbreall, put an end to his life the fubfequent ■ 
day. A'fcw minutes before his death, he wrote ■ 
the following 'note, butwasfoos interrupted by' 
%.faimiiig fit. 

"Ere while we were feparated by in«i,- but'T 
now we are going to be. difuaitcd by God. I' 
do not miLrmur; yetllhoukl have been happy 
tofcc yoa once more. On the brink of eterftV- 
ty I. am expanding Ay hands, bldfing thee, ex- 
cellcnt young man I Weep not at my death j , 
we (hall meet again in yon blifsfnl manlions,- 
where all good men (hall be reunited for ever.- 
Honour my memory, by keeping firm to my 
principles, which from. my foul, flowed- over in-' 
your mind.?' 

" Two mortal wsunds like thofe- wMdi the 
ill-fated love affair, and the death of. Count 
Galvez inflifled on the heartof my friend, con- 
fined him to the fick bed. Now happened what 
1 had dreaded, without my having been >able to 
prevent it. Alumbrado, who was returned 
from his journey, intruded on my friend, and foon 
traced out the fafell road to his heart.- My friend 
was weak enough to communicate to hiro the fitu- 
ation in which he was with regard to Amelia ; 
and Alumbiatlo helttated not a moment to pro* 
cure bim the confcnC of his falher. The powei 
excrcifedby that man over the Marcjuis wa» fo' 
^rtat, that -the latter fufiered himfelf to be per- 
luaded to wf ite to the Countefs, and to invite 
her in the molt honourable and flattering man<- 
«er» 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 157 

ner, to render his fon happy by giving him her 
hand. 

" The duke wrote only the following few 
lines : 

•• My dcarcft love I I addrefs myfelf to you 
on the brinlc of the grave i your hand can favc 
or hurl me down : my docmi ' relli with you. 
O! come, angelic woman, and kad mc from 
the gate of death to a paradiliacal life; come 
and reward my love, which alone fupports my 
breaking heart." 

P. S. " Vafconcel"o8 has bled under the 
avenging fword of the redeemers of my coun- 
try." 

•' The anfwcr of the Countcfs was to the fol- 
lowing purport : 

■<0 ! that this letter could Sy on the pint- 
<>ns of love, in order to carry inftantly to my 
friend health and joy. Yes, your requeft is 
granted. Receive, my deareft Duke, to whohi 
my Awr/ has yielded, receive ray band too, and 
the vow of eternal fidelity. My uncle having 
recoveicd his health, nothing fhall detain me 
from embarking in the Hrll velTel which Ihalt 
fail for pQrt***l. The idea that your beft 
wilhes, the blefling of y6ur father and my un- 
cle, and the guardian genius of love, will con- 
daft me on my voyage, will affift me to conquer 
my fcai of the fca. 1 (hould never have done 
writing if this letter did not require cxpectition^ 
and my friend, wht> arrived here the 4^y before 
yetterday^ infilled upon adding a few words to 
thofc of 

" Tour 

Amelia Clairtal." 

•« Give mc leave, mv Lord,, to add only 

my fincereft congratulationsi and to aflc your 

Grace,, 



I3S THE VICTIM OF 

-Grace, whether you do n« ac^koowledge now 
as a foothfayer 

Your h umble and obctllciit fcrranC, 

Anna de Deuer." 

The Duke had began to mend rapidly ever 
fince the Marquis confented to bis union with 
Amelia ; the letter of the Countefs reftoicd his 
health intirely. No moital oould be more hap- 
py and cheerful than the Duke of Canti*A. It 
was natural that Alumbrado, who, as the au- 
thoT of his happinefs, had no fmalt claim to his 
gratitude, ftiould acquire in his eyes a value, 
which incirely difpelled the antipathy he at firft 
had conceived againft him. I foon was made 
fenfible of that change, when I took one time 
the opportunity of dropping a few words con- 
cerning Alumbrado. " I cannot conceive,'* the 
Puke replied warmly, "why you are fo much 
prejudiced againd that man i it is true his phy- 
liognomy doce not fpeak much to his Tecsminetf 
dalion ; it is, however, very unphilofophicat to 
condemn a perfon mcrelj oa account ol his fi;a- 
hires*." "Say whatever you wilJ," I replied. 
" an undefcribable repelling fcnfation, which 
certainly does not deceive me — — " *< You have 
conceived an antipathy zgainli him," the Duke 
interrupted me^ " and Uiat cannot be refuted 
by arguments i however, |wiU temkidyou of a- 
{*&, which here will be in its proper place. So- 
crates, whofQ pbyfiognoQiy, a» %oyi will rccol- 
Is&t was vety much to lus difadvaniage, hap- 
pened once to be in a company of friends, when 
a philofopher, who pretended to be a ghyfiog- 
nomin, took ifie word; he was requcfted to de- 
lineate the character of Socrates, who was a. 
Uranger to him. The philofopher named feve- 
lal vices which be prctenskd t9 scad plainly i* 
hi^ 



MAGICAL DELUSION. ijj^ 

his Face. A general laughter was the cScCi of 
his judgment i hovever, Socrates rematncd fe« 
riouS) and declared that he really had felt a na. 
tural propeiifiif to thofe vices, but had got the 
better of it by unremitted alGduity. The appli- 
cation of this inftance, 1 leave to your own good 
fenfe." 

*' How ?" I exclaimed with furprifc, " you 
compare ALumbrado with Sucr^tes, au abfurd 
■fcctic with a reverend fage, hypocrify wiih vir- 
tue ? This enormous infatuaiion vexed me to 
fuch a degree, that I could not help giving vent 
lo my juft refentnient However, I perceived 
foon that my words did not make the kafl im- 
preilion on my mifguided friend. Being there- 
Jorc obliged to defiil from my endeavours to 
change the opinion of the Uuke, I ilrovc with 
addiiionil afhdulty to cut off his couneclion with 
Alumbr^do, at ieaft till h^ (hould he united 
to Amelia, ei^e^ing thivt this inacl would foon 
drive away that demon of darknefi. I propofed 
to the Duke a journey to •*ina, for the bene, 
fit of his health, and offered to accompany liim. 
He cnnfented to it without diificuity, ezpeclrng 
to beguile by exercife and diverfions, the time 
which* from hia impatience of feeing Amelia 
arrive, appeared to him to creep on with fnail- 
like fiowncfe. My aim would howtvcr have bee;! 
attained vrithoiit this expedient, AIumbrAdo iear- 
ijig Li"bon unexpectedly ; yet we fct out on ouc 
pFopofeil journey. 

We hafl not been feven days at "'ina wheq 
|he Duke was already impatient to leave that 
place. Huwcver improbable it was Ajneli» 
could arrive fo foon, yet this idea left him no 
reft. We teturned on the eighth day, and tra- 
velled day and night. 

c4v=..il; Google 



MO THE VICTIM OP 

It was Eve o'clock in the morning, when we 
alif^hted at his palace. Scarcely had wc entered 
his apnrtment when his Secretary brought a let- 
ter, which he faid had been left by a pilot at % 
late hour lall nighr. The Duke leddcncd and 
grew pale alternately, while he opened it. 
" She is arrived, fte is arrived !" he exclaimed, 
and the letter dropped out of his hand trembling 
with rapture. "She is arrived!" he repeated , 
taking it up and re-peruling the gladful lines. ~ 
The emotions of his mind were fo violent, that 
he was obliged to (it down. ■■ Amelia is ar- 
rived !" he exclaimed again, riling and ftraining. 
me to his bofom. The letter was couched in. 
the following vords i 

' Has not your heart told you, mj dearcR^ 
Duke, that I am near you ? 1 ftiould already have 
prefled you to my panting hearty if the Captain 
had I'uifered me to go in the boat which will fct 
the pilot on Qiore. Bot he has oppofed my de- 
Sgn, on account of the fwelling fea and the* 
great diltance. If Heaven. farouts ui you wilt 
IJee me to-morrow.. 

Your 

« Amelia.* 

•• Well, myfricttd," faid the Dhke, when I 
returned the paper to him, *• has my prefcnti- 
ment deceived me i- have not I done well to urge 
OUT return ?— But why do we, tairy^ here ? (he 
added) let ut fty to thw harbour 1" 

The horfcs were inllantly fiddled, , and wc 
mounted them in our travelling drefs. We rode 
in full rpeed, and each of us indulged lilent I y 
his fentiments — The 'flcy was gloomy, and . the 
univerfal (lillnefs, not interrupted by the leaft 
breeze of. air,, fecmcd to prefagc no good. At 
length. 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 141 

length we faucicH, with alloni{hinent, we heard 
the diftant rolling of ihunderj however wc foon 
perccired thai it was the echo cauCed by the rcfi. 
port of guns. Tliediftant firing of cannon, and 
the fore-runners of a nfing tempcft, thrilled my 
heart with chilling anxiety, for' I apprehended 
the fliip mult be in great danger. Soon after 
the firing ceafed, but this calm was more dread- 
ful to m« than the report of the cannon. We 
fpurred our horfes without uttering a word* for 
neither of us dared to confefs his apprehcnfions. 
Bcing-at fength arrived at the fea Ihorc — Hea- 
vens I what a fccne pf horror did we behold ! 
the furge was dreadful, the cliffs and the ftrand 
were covered with a white fpame. The rays of 
the fun could not peneiiate the fog which ovcr- 
fpread tlie furface of the fea. We could there- 
fore, not difcovcr the ifland where the (hip waa 
lying at anchor, it appearing to us in the (lupe 
of a black cloud, which feemed to be a mile 
diftant from the (bore. 'I'he veil which conceal- 
ed the danger of ihc (hip from our eyes only 
ferved to augment our anxiety. 

A troop of mariners and foldiers under the 
command of Mcn*os, were arrived with us at 
the fliore. The drums beat and a general vol- 
ley was fired. A flafli of lijihtning darted in- ' 
llamly over the fc;a, and immediately at'.er it the 
report of a gun was heard. We all halteued to 
thelide where we had perceived the Cgnal, and 
obferved, through the fog, the body and the 
main yard of a large fhip. We were fo near 
that we could hear the whiflling and the accla- 
mations of the failOTS, in fpite of the roaring of 
the mountainous billows. The (hip's crew bred 
a gun every three minutes, as foon is they per- 
ceived that alliflauce was near. 

lad- 
ctv.-.ii,Googlc 



141 THE VICTIM Off 

I admired my fTimd*G ^'^"^'^ '^^ itiiai vith 
<iHiich he, at a (ight that ought to have rendered 
him almoft diftraded, fliewed the grCateft zeal 
to favc the ctew, ordering a large fife to be 
lighted on the cliffs, and boards, cables, empty 
callcG and provifions to bb kept in mdinefs. 

An impending hurricane feemed to be lurking 
in the air. The middle of the cloudt was of a 
horrid blacknefs, and their cdgfs were of a cop- 
per colour. The leaves of the trees were mov- 
ing, and yet not a breath of air was felt. The 
cries of the fca fowls, who wcte refortin); to 
(he ifland for protection, refoundcd through the 
air. 

At length we heard fuddcniy a dreadful roar- 
ing, as if foaming torrents were tulhing down 
from the fummit of a lofty tnountain, and eve- 
ry one exclaimed, this is the hurricane ! Ill the 
fame moment a violent whirlwind removed the 
foggy veil which had concealed the ifland from 
Diir eyes. We had now a clear view of the (liip.i 
her whole deck was covered with people, her 
colours were hoUled, her fore-part was fecured 
by four anchors, and her flcrn by one. Her 
Hem oppofed the billowing waves which came 
roaring fiom the fea, and was raifed fo high above 

■ ihe furface of the water, that one could fee her 
whole keel, while the Hern was almoft entirely 
buried in the foaming billows. The dangerous 

■ fiiuaTion of the veflcl rendered it impolTiblc for 
. her to put out to fea, or to run on Ihore. 

The howling of the wind, and the roaring of 
the waves, which were fwelling higher every 
moment, vtaa dreadful. The whole channel be- 
tween the ifland and the (bore was a mafs of 
vhite thick fioth, cut through by black and 
hollow waves. The appearance of the horizon 
prcgnoQicated a long tailing ftorm. Some waves 
of 



-MAGICAL DELUSION, " 14J 

of a dreadful (hapc feparatnl from the main 
tvcry now and then, and dai^ed with the velo- 
city of lightning acrofs the channel, while othcn 
Temained immoveable like enoririous rocks. Not 
one blue fpot couid be defcried in the firma- 
ment i a pale faint glimmer enlightened heaven, 
earth and fea. 

The death-like palencfs of the DuWs counte- 
nance, his perturtiatednMenj his (Icps nOwflov 
and now moving with vehemence, and the con- 
tortions of his lips, befpoke the tempell raginj; 
in his foul exceeding the violence of the hurri- 
tane that was lafliing the ocean. The haplefs 
man now looked up to heaven^ and now caft 
lits anxious looks around, as if in fcarch of fome 
perfon^ and I heard him prononnce repeatedlv 
the name of Hiermanfor. This fight wounded 
mjr heart deeply, and preficd burning tean from 
my eyes. 

Meanv^ile a dreadful accident happened on 
the fea. The aoLfiors which the fore-part of 
the ihipwas moored with were torn from the 
cables by the violent agitation of the vdTel, wlrich> 
riding now onlj' with the fmall bower, was dafti- 
ed againft%the adjacent rocks. A general pierc- ' 
ing cry filled the air when this lamentable inci* 
dent happened. The Duke was going to plunge 
itilo the fea, and I retained him with great di&- 
ficuhy by hie right arm. Seeing, however, that 
bif defpair rendered him callous againft our ar- 
dent prayers not to rulh into the very jaws of 
death,' Pietro and myfelf tied a long rope round 
his body, taking hold of one end. He nov 
plunged into the bulling uaves, which tiiftaniiy 
devoured, and foon after calt him hp again. 
Thus he advanced daringly towards the fhip. He 
feemed feveral times to have a chance of forcing 
hie way to the vcflel, thu irregular motions of 
tht 



144 THE VICTIM OF 

the fea leaving Mm on the drjr rocks % howere* 
the towering billows foon returned with addition- 
al fury, and buried him beneath an enormous 
maft of water, which flung the Duke half dead 
upon the fliore. But no fooner had he recover- 
rd his fenfcs, thau he darted up, haftening with 
new courage towards (he vcffel, which, however, 
began to feparate, torn by the violence of the 
furious waves. The fliip's crew, who now def- 
paired of faving their lives, plunged in crowds 
into the fea, grafping in the agony of defponden. 
cy the fioating chelts, calks, and whatfoever 
they could lay hold on. 

I ihall never forget that horrid fcene of woe ! 
Two ladies row made their appearance on the 
Item of the veflel : one of them was the Countefs, 
and the other Lady Delier. Amelia expanded 
her arms towards her lover, who exened all his 

ftrength to jointhe darling of his fouL She 

feemcd to have known the Duke by his undaunt- 
ed courage. The Baionefs wrung her hands, 
looking an^cioufly at the fpe^ators, and pointing 
at Amelia, as if flie wanted to fay : leave me to 
my fate, but fave my friend ! Amelia was (land- 
ing on the deck without betraying the fmalleft 
(ign of fear, and feemed to be religned to her 
impending deplorable doom, beckoning to us, as 
if {he wanted to bid us an eternal adieu. All. 
the fpeflators wept, and rent the air with dole- 
ful cries and lamentations. The Duke fummon- 
ed the lall remains of his (Irength, itruggling 
with the frothing waves, in order to favc his 
niiftrefs from the brink of fell deilruflion ; but 
a mountainous billuw of an enoimous bulk forc- 
ed its way through the fpace betwixt the iiland 
and the coall, dartiifg at the (hip. In the fame 
moment Amelia ru(hed into Lady Delict's arms, 
CQcircUng her friend in wild agony, and in that 
lituatioa 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 143 

fituation tbey were buried in the abyfs along with 
the veflcl. 

The ftypcfafiion of horror which we were 
feized with, rendered us almolt incapable of 
dragging the Duke on fhorc. The fpirit of the 
bapiefs man fecmed to have Bed to better regi- 
ons, atong with that of his ill-fated bride. He was 
Arecchcd out on the ground, riolendy bleeding, 
- and feemingly atifelcfscorpre. 

I dropped down by his fide, feized with terror 
and grief, imprinting kifTes on his a{h-pale face, 
contorted by pains. I called his, mine, and at 
laft Amelia's name in bis ear ; but Jeeing him 
without the Iea& motion at the found of the lat- 
ter, 1 really feared that he was dead. Pietro beat 
iiis bTeaft, tore his hair, and rent the air with 
doleful lamentations. The bye-lUnders crowded 
upon us, and perceiving, wer many fruitlefa 
trials, fome faint velligcs of life in the Duke, 
we carried him to the next houfc and put him to 
bed. The contufions and wounds he had receiv- 
ed, by having been dalhed againfi the rocks, 
were examined by a furgeon, who declared they 
wereaot mortal. I uttered a loud fliout, throw- 
ing fnyfelf on my knees, and offering fervent 
thanks to God. The Duke opened his eyes and 
clofed them agahi. The furgcon dcCred us to 
Teiire, and not to difturb his reft. 

While Pietro went on horfeback to the houfe 
of the Marquis, in order to inform him of the 
accident that had happened to-his fon, I repaired 
to the llrand, in hopes that the bodies of Amelia 
and Lady Deiier would be driven on Ibore. How- 
ever tlie wind having fhifted fudtlcnly, as is ufual 
in huiricancs, I was obliged to give up the hdpe 
of procuring an honourable burial to thofc unhap- 
py ladies. 

Vol. IL G . Tke 

ctv.-.ii,Googlc 



146 THE VICTIM OF 

The Duke was in a fenfclcfs fliit>or, when 
I returned. Alas I his fpiritfeemcd to tarry re- 
Iu£lantlf in a world which feparated him nom 
his adored Amqlia. But why IbouM I tear open 
again mj balf-cicatrifed wounds ? I fhall not en- 
ter into a defcription of his Gtuation. I ftill 
fancy I hear the fliricks of horror, and the wild 
, ihouts which he uucred during a burning fcTer. 
when he fancied he faw his Amelia cither in dan- 
gerous or in happy Gtuations. His knaginatiojn 
and his lips were conftantly occupied with her. 
When, at length, his fevci abated, jind his re- 
collection returned, he really- fancied the hifiorjr 
of' ^Amelia's haplefs fate to be the delufion of a 
fevcrifli dream. Although I was very cautious 
. to diilodgc this delulive opinion only graduallyt 
yet the dtfcovery of his error affefled him fo vio- 
< lently, that I apprehended it would deprive 
hinii if not of hisiifc, at.Ieaft of .Jiis underKand- 
ing. 

Here I cannot,onnt mentioning a fcene whii^ 
happened ^t the beginning of His amendment. 
The Marquis bad ordered him to be carried to his 
houfe .as.foonaehe l>egan to mend, and nurfed 
him .with . paternal care. He came, one day, 
when the:i]uke was ileepingj and i iitting by hit 
bed-fide, to enquire how his fon did: as he bent 
over the fleeper, and feemed to look anxioufly 
whether any ligns of returning health appeared 
in his face, he ohierved on the bofom of bis Iba 
zblue ribbon. He pulled it carefully out, and 
the piAure of the Queen of Fr"*cc was fiifpend- 
cdtoit. The countenance of the Marquis re- 
fembled at &rtt that of a perfon who is dubious 
trhether he is awake or dreaming ; but loon after 
' I faw his face grow deadly pale, and his whole 
frame quiver violently. No fooner had he re- 
covered the power of utterance, than he begged 



MAGICAL DELITSION. 14^ 

' me to retire. Tvo hour* after he left the apart- 
ment of my &iend id violent agitation, without 
obferving me. Gb my entrance into the fick 
room I found the Duke bathed in tears. The 
Tibbon was ftill fattened round his neck, but the 
pidure' of the Queen was taken from it. 

I Qgnified tohimmyaftonifhment. He fqueez- • 
ed my hand tenderly, and faid : — " Toii arc my 
Anly friend, for whom I wilh to-hare no fccrcts ; 
and yet I am fo -unhappy as to have this wilh too 
denied , me. Don't prcls me to tell you what has 
Ijcen tranfafted between me and my father; I 
liave been obliged to promife with a dreadful oath 
to take the fecret along with me in my grav^— 
^n my grave !" he added a little while after, " I 
Atn impatient to occupy that habitation ever ftnCc 
'Amelia and Antonio.have madek their abode." 

•' Miguel!" I exclaimed, nraining him to my 
Jicart,«di(pclthcfc gloomy thoughts. You (hall 
■learn that one bai not loft every thing when irt 
-pofleOion of a friend like me." 

" I know yon, and I thank you,", he replied; 
With emotion, •< let us die together { this woHd 
is not deferring to conbun us. What- bafiniefs . 
have we in a world (he added with a ghafUy 
look) in which vice only triumphs, and good 
men find nothing but a grave i" 

Reader, do not fancy this language, to have 
originated merely from a truifient agitation cif 
mind; alas I it.originated from a heart exafperat- 
cd by the iconcurrence of the moR melancholy 
misfortunes, and this exatperation was rooted 
deeper than I had fancied at firft. It generated 
in his foul poifonouB Ihoots wluch injured his re- 
ligion. He declared it to be impoffibte a good 
God could defignedly make good men fo unliap- 
pyashchadbecn rendered. He afcribcd the ori- 
gin of his mitfortunes to a bad principle, which, 
G 2 having 



148 THE VICTIM OF 

iiaviog a diare in the govemment of thrworM, 
had sppTOpriated his uaderftandtog merely to the 
execution of its bad purpofeB. lie m^tained 
that it was contrary to the nature of an. infinitely 
£ood being toeffei^ even the bcft purp(^c« by bad 
means ; and if there were in this world as muiifa 
diforder, imperfe^ion, and misfortune, as har- 
mony, perfe^ion and happincfa, this would be 
ua undeniable proof that the world was governed, 
and had been created jointly by a good SKid a bad 
principle. In fliort, he fub&ribed entirely to die 
jjftem of the Mnnichett. 

I perceived this new deviation of his miod 
with altonifhmont and grief, and thought it my 
duty to lead him back in the path of truth asfbou 
as pcffible. becaufe this «rror deprived him of 
the lalt confolation in his fu&rings. For which 
rcafon I endeavoured to convince him, that the 
ideas of a bad and a good principle annul each 
Pthcr ; that it is a downright contradi^ion to be- 
lieve in the cxiflence of a bad God ; that, con' 
fequently, the fundamental ideas of his fyflem 
were abCurd, and, of courfe the fyflem itfelf uR- 
ftipported. I proved to him that the evil in this 
world is not inconfifieut with the good nefs and 
providence of God, and that even the happincfs 
of the wicked, and the fuS'erings of the good, 
o|ight not to undermine our brlief, but rather to 
strengthen our hope of a life hereafter, in which 
cv^ry one will receive the jull reward of his tStX' 
ons. But how convincing foever my argunienta 
would have been to any unprejudiced perlbn, yet 
;Iiey made very little imprelhon on the.Duke, 
whom the dilharniony and gloominefs of his mind 
had too much prcpoffeiled for his comfprtlefs fyC- 
tem. Far from finding the lead contradi^ion in 
jt, he uas firmly perluaded that the belief i;i a 
bsd Frii:ciple fcrvcd to defend God agaiRft the 
com- 



MAGI-CAL DELUSr-ON. t^ 

(TompUints and reproaches of the unfoTtunaKr 
iritile he found a great confolation in venting biSi 
refcRlmont againft the bad principle, whom he 
faelietcd to be the uithor of hia fufferingt. He. 
was thtrefore Grtnlf refolvcd to refute the argu- 
ments which i had oppofed to his fyAem ; and as/ 
faon as he was able to leave Ms bed, began to ar- 
range his ideas on that head, and to fecure 
them by a propsr train of ai^uments agaiuit my 
obje^oni. He had almoft finiOied* his work- 
when Atumbrado returned from his journey. 

It is almolt incredible, with hoW' much appear-, 
ance of trucli and cordiality he manifefted his 
grief at the haplefs fate of the Duke. Hit afied- 
cd fuch a tender fellow-feeling, and fo much, 
friend thip* for Miguel,- that the latcer was charm- 
ed with him, and iancicd the favourable opinion: 
he had conceivsd of Alumbrado to be fullyjufti* 
fied. The hypocrite not only pitied him, but at 
the f^mc time, .eudeavouTed to aSbtd him com« 
fettle -Mtationiiig, however, among other argu- 
ments, how wonderful the ways of Providence 
are, and how God promored our happinefs even 
through the evils ot chia world, the Duke Ihook 
his head. Alumbrado was furprifed at it, and. 
enquired what objedkion he had againll that doc- 
trine ? The Duke, who thought him def^rvlng 
■ of bis confidence, was fo imprudent as to unfold 
to him his new creed ; nay, he carried his incon- 
fideration fo far as to read to him part of his tradt 
which he had wrote on that fubjcA. Although 
I was very much terrified at.it, yet I was impati- 
ent to know Alumbrado's opinwui and behaviour 
on this occalion. My alloniihment rofe to the 
highell degree, when he refuted the arguments 
ef the Duke with a franknefs which generally is 
fuppofed to arife only from love of truth, and 
defended the goodnefs and piovidcnceof God, 
G 3 wiUi. 



ISO THE VICTIM OF 

irith an nidnice and warmth which can originate 
only from the light of religion. The dignity and 
mci^y with which he fpoke had an irrefiftibla 
eile^ on^ the Duke ; he caA his eyes upon the 
ground in dumb amazement, and appeared to b& 
Confounded aitd afhanted. 

** 1 cannot but confefs that I myfclf began tO' 
believe I had been egrcgioufly midaken in mjr 
opinion of Alumbrado's chara^cr. I begged hit ' 

fiardon in my heart, and though I could not love 
lim, yet I thought it my duty not to refufe him- 
my regard any longer. 

Howcrer, foon after two accidenta happened' 
which gave me reafon to apprehend that 1 had 
changed my opinion too prematurely. I got in- 
telligence that Atumbrado vifttcd the houfe of a- 
man whofe charafier was veiy much fufpcAcd. . 
Baeza was his name. The imp<«tant office which 
he kept at the cuftom houfe, and the extenfive - 
trade he carried on all over Europe, had render- 
ed his houfe rcfpe^led, wealthy, ppwerfuli tnd- 
honoured. He was a Jew by birth, but changed 
his religion from political motives.. His condu^^ 
at lead, did not refute the opinion that he con- 
fcflctl only with bis lips the Roman Catholic re- 
ligioHj and it had given rife to much fcandal 
when Oliva*ez conferred on him the order of 
Chrilt. The connedtion between him and this 
mintller was very intimate and not at all fhaken 
by the revolution ; but continued, only with more 
aUiduity and circumfpeflion, which was no diffi- 
cult talk to a consummate hypocrite like Baeza. 
tf It will be obvious that Alumbrado's connexion 
with this man difpleafcd me for more than one 
reafon. Aiio:fccr circumiiaiice contributed to 
- ftrenglht-n my fufpicion of Alumbrado's honeilj. 
The Duke milTed a iheet of his tra£l on the fyf- 
tEm of the Mamctees. Alumbrado fiad viHted 
hitn 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 151 

him frequcntl]r, had been alone in his fludy - 
many- a time where thc-manurcript was Ifin^ 
on the writing deflc. The Duke, far from fuf- 
peAing him, fancied he had millatd the paper, 
and having renounced that fyftem on Alum- 
brado's perfuafion, did ndt care much for that 
traft. 

Although my repeated exhortations and my 
Avowed 'antipath]r had not been able to prevail 
on my friend to drop ail connexions with that 
dangerous man, yet they had retained him from 
being too intimate with him j however, Gncc he 
knew that I had conceived a more favourable 
opinion of Alumbrado, he attached himfelf 
more clofel;^ to him. The old Marquis obfenred 
this change with great fatisfaflion, but, at the 
fitme time, faw widi greater grief the recovery, 
of his fon'b health make but very flow progreCs. 
Ttie caufe of- it wag a fecret, but rooted melan< 
choly, into which the overflowing cxafperation 
of his heart and furious agony of mind had 
changed ever fmce he had adopted the principles 
of the Manichean fyllem. This melancholy 
corroded his vitals lilcc the flow poifon of a can- 
cer, and (topped not onlv the circulation of the 
vital powers, but alfo me energy of the foul, ■ 
of my unhappy friend in its wonted aftivity. 
The fituation of his mind was therefore merely 

J)alGve, which rendered him the more fufccptible 
orthofe eiternal imprcflions which fitted the 
lituation of htj mind, the lefs power of relif- 
tance and l£lf«£^ivity he poSefTed. Thhs he 
was an inltrument which Alumbrado could play 
on at pleafurc. The latter Teemed, however, 
not yet determined what meafures he (hould take 
for attaining his aim ; but, unfortunately, the 
Duke himfelf put him afterwards on the right 
track. Ue found particular pleafure in conver- 
G4 Cnfi^g 



153 ■ THE TTCTIM OF 

fing with his new confidant on the happineCs 
which lOvbig fouls would derive from their re- 
union in a better worldr and he negle^cd me 
now for no other rcafon but becaufe I could tiy 
but very little on that fubjeA, while Alumbrado'fr. 
ima}{ination and eloquence were inexhaultible.. 
1. had no hope of giving the mind of the Duke 
a different turn i. his natural vivacity, which 
formerly fo frequently avocated his aitciitton 
from one objefl, and oftentimes direfted it 
irtefiftibly to another of a nature entirely oppo> 
fite, this vivacity was entirely extinguiOied ; 
a gloomy famenefs, which was intmoveably 
fixed to the object which once had zttra£ted hift- 
attention, having (lept in it$ place. Every ter> 
leArial joy .had fled with' Amelia, Lady Delierr 
and Antonio ; the fourcc from which he at ptc- 
fent derived his plcafure, originated beyond the- 
grave. How joyfully would he have overleaped 
die clefi which fcparatcd him from the dailinga 
of his heart, if he hud not been kept back bjC 
mine and Alumbrado's pcrfuafions. Thisflate 
uf mind encreafcd his anxious defire of diCcover- 
iiig an artificial bridge of communication with 
the kingdom of fpirits. In (hort, all the ideas 
hti had imbibed in the fchool of the IrilhmaiL 
. awoke tn his mind with redoubted force. What 
at firft had been to him a mere objcft of know- 
ledge, became now the moft important concern 
ef his heart. One lime he fufprifcd Alumbrada 
with the quellion whether he thought it poflible 
to convcrle with fpirits before our death i How-- 
ever the artful man extricated his neck with 
^itat dciterity from the fling, replying, that 
luch a quellion could not be anlwercd in generaii 
nor with a few words. I perceived that Alum- 
brado viewed the Duke attentively and began to 
mufe,. 

D51z=.JnLTOOglC 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 153 

m'uf^i alihough be had cat o(F abruptly the 
thread of the converfation. 

No one can conceive how ardently the Duke 
longed fo» the arrival of the In hmaii; of whom 
he expefted to receive the final folution of that 
problem. One rather (hould think that the 
frilhnian ought to have loft all credit with him, 
on account of his treacherous behaviour ; for 
BOC only his (ird promife to p<it the Duke in 
polTedion of Amelia by means of his fupem^ 
tural power; butalfothe fecond, that he would 
initiate hkn in the praifltcal myftcries of his fu- 
^rnatural wifdom, as foon as the revolution 
ihould have been accompjifhed, was Itill incom- 
p:leted. Hawevcr, the I>ukc cxcufed him, 
tntlcad of fufpe^ing his having deceived him. 
'• H-ierraanfor," he (aid, "is not all-powerful j 
how could he therefore, avert that fatal blow 
from Amelia's head ? Hicrmanfor has not fixed 
the day of his return 1 perhaps he has been de- 
tained by bufincfa of the grcateflf confequcnce, 
or means to try the meafure of my confidence 
in-him ; but whatever may be the reafon of his 
non arrivali he certainly will not omit to make 
good his word." Aiumbrado aflted him who 
that Hiermanfor was ? and the Duke related 
to him at large his adventures with that man, 
without betraying the (hare he had had in the 
revolution. I expefled that Aiumbrado. who 
at once was made acquainted with fo dangerous 
a rival, would do his utmolt to ruin His credit ; 
but I was midaken ; all that he ventured to fay, 
was, indeed, very much agamlt him; but he 
added, that one ought not to judge prematurely 
on fo great and deep a character. 

This lenient judgment was not fufficicnt to 

cure the Duke of his dclufion; although his 

«onfidctice in the Irifhman was very Itrong, 

G 5 yet 



154 THE VICTIM OF 

yet his patience was very weak, and my reafon- 
ing againll Hiermanfor began to make him un- 
eafy. ' Severnl times was he eoiag to make public 
inquiries. after him, but Sic apprehenGon of 
ofFfnding him without being able to find him oat 
always prevenied him from doittg it. At Uft, 
when the Irifiiman did not appear after along 
and fruitlefs expe£lation, my friend took it in 
his head to inquire after the Count de Clairvat, 
and in cafe he IhouH difcover him, to feize hin> 
cither by force or art, bccaufc he cxpedcd to 
receive from him fomc information of Hicrman- 
for. Alumbrado defired the Duke to give him a 
defcription of the Count. " He is almoU of my 
Cize," my fiiend replied* " but fair, of an 
intercfting counicnance, and a tranquil, gentle 
ferioufnefs, generally chara^erizes his mient 
which, however, frequently bcfpeaks the moft 
jovial humour ; his iiofc is rather of the aquiline 
kind, his mouth almod woman-like handfome, 
and his chin falls a little back, yet without dis- 
figuring him." "If you wifh to get him in 
your power," Alumbrado replied, *' I will en- 
deavour to fiell-bitid him ; but then I fhall want 
his piflure ; could you delineate it on a piece 
ttf p^ipci?" The Duke, who as little as tnyfelf 
knew what to think of this offer,' looked alter- 
nately at me and at Alumbrado. " Indeed," 
the latter continued, " I with to pofiefs the 
picture of the Count i leave the confequence to 
me." " If you really wi(h to poflef» it," my 
friend replied, " you fliall have it." 

Poireffing a great IklU in (drawing flriking 
likcnefles, he fimlhed the ponrait the day foU 
lowing, afliQcd by his imagination, and gave 
it to Alumbrado. We were impatient to learn 
V hat he was going to do with it ; howeve?, he 
vlfited the Duke four days without mentioning 
tlic 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 155 

ttie picture ; but on the £fth day inforinsd him 
in wlut hotel he would find the Count. We - 
were looking at him in dumb aftonilhnent, 
when he added, " Make hafte, now you caa " 
furprtfe him ; and if he Ihould rcfufe to follow 
Tou, you only need to tell him that the guard - 
IS waiting for your order to feizc him." 

Alumbrado had fpoken the truth} the Suke ' 
found the Count in his apartment. The latter 
was at firft incapable of uttering a word, but 
having recovered from his' adoDilhnicnt, he de> 
dined in a faltering accent to accept the invita«- 
tion of my friend. But' when he heard the ■ 
Duke talk of the guard, and faw that -he was z ■ 
prifoncrihe -fubmittcd to his fate. The Duke 
ordered his^mnk to be carried to hi* coach, and ~ 
then drove with him to his palace. 

Apprehending that the Count wOulJ be re- ' 
fenred in the- prefcncc of a third pcrfon, he 
had previoully requeued me to retire with Alum- 
brado to a clofct, where ire could hear and fee 
them without being obferved. The introdudion 
to their difcourfe had already been finiihed in- 
the carriage, confcquemly wc heard- only the ■ 
continuation. As foon as they had entered the 
room, the Duke defired the Count to give him 
the key of his trunk/ which was delivered to him 
without hefitation. While he was opening the 
trunk and fearching- for papers which he could 
not find, the Count took bis letter-cafe out of 
his pocket and threw it in the chimney fire. 

Although the Duke haltened 10 fave it, yet a 
great part of it had already been confumed by 
the flames. The reft he locked up in his writ- 
ing defk. . 

" Why have you done this i" he faid to the 
Count with tifing anger. 



156 THE VICTTM OF 

<( Becaafe I do not like tobave my fecrcts 
wieftcd from mc by force." 

The Duke took fereral turns in his apartment 
in order to recover bii equanimitjr, and theit. 
rung the bell. •* Wine^" he called to the (er- 
vant, who brought it immediately and retired. 

•' Count," faid the Duke in a mild accent^ 
" the wine poffcffes the rirtue of rendering 
people communicicire and Gncere. Let us 
drkik." 

*■ You fiiall draw m^ fecreti from me neitber- 
hj force nor artiticc. I (hall at leaft have thc' 
merit of confeOiag yoluntarilyt. what I can^. 
and dare confefa." 

" Very well. However, wine polTcfles alfo' • 
the virtue of difpelling antmolity and per^eiitjr. 
Come, let us drink." 

The Count confented to it. 

"Firftof all," find the Duke, after they had 
been feated, "tell me where is Hiermanlbr? 
He promifed to pay me a vifit as foon u For- 
•••al Ihould be delivered from the Spa*«(h. 
yoke, but has not been as good as his word.*' 

" He could not. AiEurs of the greatcft im- 
portance have called tum to BrafiJ, where be ve- 
ry probably is at prefent.* 

<* Do you think thit he wilt fulfil his pmnifo- 
after his return ?" 

<< Undoubtedly I But why do you wifli for: 
his vifit." 

*' He has promifed to initiate me in the myf- 
terics of an occult philofopby. Tou are per-r- 
haps capable of fuppljFing his places" 

*< No, my Lord." 

" But you will be able to afford me fome 
information with refpe€l to thofe illu&ons by 

Wch I have been pm to the teft ?" 
' Yei f the Count replied, aftei.a paufc. 

i' I only 



MAGrCAL DELXTSroN. 137 

** I onljrdclwc you to explain to me the more 
intricate a.tid moO: important deceptionSf for 
the red I hope to unfi^d without your affif- 
tance." 

*' Mod of them you will already have difco- . 
Tcred by the papers, which, you have ta— found, 
in my trunk." 

" How do you know that ?* The D<ike afked. 
with adonllbment. 

" I know it from HiermanfoT.'* 

■'And by whom, has ht been. ii^Tiaed. 
ef it ?" 

■ «By your Grace."' 

. "Byrne? I donot rectrilcA tohare difcoreicdL 
to him any thing." 

t> Not dire^Uy^.bowerer, you have betrayed' 
yourfelf." 

« On what occalion ?" 

" When he paid you a vifit at •*ubia. Do- 
you not recoiled to hare afked him whether he 
had difcovcred'to Amelia. that your real father 
had not been the murderer of her Lord ? Thi* 
you could not have known if you had not feea 
lay papers." 

" It is true/' the Duke replied after a ibort. 
fileitce* " howevcF, thofe papers did not extend 
farther than to the time when Hicrmanfbr was^ 
taken up iayoui and my tutor's prefence. I was 
then going to defcend into the fubterraaeou^ 
vaults of a. ruinous building, in order to take » 
Iffilliant pin out of the hair of aileepii^ vir- 

■^I know it; but you would have found nei- 
thcr.the fleepiog virgin nor any of thofe things 
which Hiermanfor told you you would meet 
with." 

*< Is it poffible ; (hould he have riflced a fraud 

id which I fo eaGly could have found him out ?" 

; - ' "He 



158 THE VICTIM OF 

"He knew before-hand thai you would not 
get to the bottom of the llaircafe, for it was ■ 
fettled previoufly that I fhould appear in time 
with the officers of the police, and recall your ■ 
Grace by firing a piftol." 

"Indeed !" faid the Duke with -aftonifhment, 
•• now I rccolleft another very (Irange incident. - 
I fiiould perhaps not have defcended witboat 
your intetferencc, for I was fcizod with an oti-v 
common ansftety, which increafed every ftcp 
I proceeded. 1 cannot conceiTc what was the 
realbn of it i however it feemed 2S if an inviGble - 
.power pulhed me back" 

'f This I will explain to you. Don't you rc- 
collefl that a thick fmoke afcended from thei 
abyfs ? A Aupifying incenfe which poflefled the 
power of llrattening the bread, and creating; 
anxiety, was burning at the bottom of the ftait- 
-cafc." 

•• I cannot but confrfs," the Duke Taid, after' 
afhortpaufe, *' that the execution was not Icfs 
cautious than the plan has been artful. I had^ 
indeed been impelled, at that time to believe 
that Hiermanfor was not only poiTefTed of the- 
knowledge of fubterraneous treafures, but alfo 
of the power and the inclination of affiarding- 
me a (hare'of them, and that ithad been merely 
iny fault to have returned empty handed. His 
curfory account of the wonderful things I fhould 
meet with in the' at^fs had contributed to fet my 
nnagination at work,- and I was more defirous 
to fee thofe miraculous things, than to get pof- 
feflion of the jewels." 

" Your Grace refented it very much that I 
had interrupted that adventure by the feizure 
of Hiermanfor." 

•' Indeed 1 did, but what view had you in do- 

"«'>^" ■ „.„.Gooslt.„ 



MAGICAL, DELUSION. 159 

*< It was of great confequence tome, toproTC 
myfelf to you and your tutor, in an incontcfti- 
ble manner, an implacable enemy of Hierman* 
for. How could I have cfiefled it better than 
by feizing him ? the magiflrate was an intimate 
friend of mine, and the whole farce pre-concert- 
ed with him." 

*' Then the Irifhman has not been taken up 
ferioully ?" 

" The officers of the police had been ordered 
to fet him at liberty as foon a» he fhouU be out 
of your fight," * 

" Now 1 can comprehend why you fo obfti. 
liately nppofcd me when I entreated my tutor 
to make an attempt at delivering Hiennanfor. 
— But what would you have done, if I had- 
perfifled in my rcfolutton of taking that 
itcp i" 

" Then you fliould certainly not have done it 
iilone t 1 would have accompanied you to the 
magillrate, who, undoubtedly, would have found 
means of confoling you with rcfpe^ to Uier- 
manfor's fate. It feemed, ncvertbelefs, not to 
be advifcable to fuffer you to remain any longer 
in the neighbourhood of the theatre where that 
fcene had been petformed. You might have 
peeped behind the curtain without our knowledge, 
and your tutor could have made fecret enquiriesi 
An accident might eafily have betrayed to you 
that theprocefsagaintt Hieimanfor was a B^^i- 
on ; in Ihort, we could not have afled with 
fafety and liberty while you Ihould have been 
near the fcene of aflion, and for that reafon 
the magillratc was fuborued to endeavour to 
peifuade you to a fpeedy flight, in which he fuc- 
- cerded to our greateft fatisfaflion." 

"Now it is evident how Hiermanfor could 

fliew fo much tranquiUiiy and unconcern wher 

' h 



ifo THE VICTIM OF 

Ke was taken up* how he could promife to fee 
me at "•n, and make good his promife."" 

" The latter was indeed an cafy matter j 
however he wanted to render bis re-appearance 
intcrcfting by concomitant crtraordinary circum* 
ftances. A lamentabic incident procored him ' 
the means of effecting his purpofe. Tou will 
recolleft the execution of Pranciia, the too late 
difcovery of her innocence, and the nof^rnri 
foneral to which I invited you— ■Hiermanfor' 
coald not hare re-appeared te yon on a more rti-^ 
roarkablc opportunity. At that periad, when 
your foul was thrilled with gloomy melancholy 
and chilling fenfations, the light of a man whom 
you fuppofe to langniflt in a dungeon, or per- 
haps to have finifhed already his career on the 
ftake, could not but make the dccpeft impredion 
on you. Tou know that he omitted nothing, 
that promifed to enforce that imprel]kin." 

« But how could ke then already know that- 
I had been raifed to the ducal dignity ?" 

"He had received early tHteltigcnce of it' 
by a letter from a friend, who was intimate with - 
the fecretary of your fcther." 

" Let us drop the difcourfe on the Icene of 
that nighty it ii accompanied with too horrid and 
painful ideas. Let us repair to the retired cell 
of the royal hermit, where no inferior mi- 
ntcles are crowding upon ub FirA of all, tetl 
me whether you leaUy thioh him to be tbc 
old baniflied King ?" 

'■ I do, indeed, not only bccaufb Hiermanfor 
has told me fo, but alfo becaufe his whole 
form refembles in a mofl ftriking maanet, the 
pi^ute of the real King." 

" But when do you think he wlU afcend the 
thnme of Fon««al t» 



MAGICAL DELUSION. i^ 

•• I fuppofc very Coon '" 

**Da you, indeed f I can fee, as yet, na 
preparations for it. They even do not tali 
of the old King; every one believes him to be 
dead i I think it would be time to fpiead the 
news of his E>einE ftill alive." 

"I mult confefs that I have neither heard 
nor fecn any thing of him fince we left him in 
his cell. I hope Hicrmanfor's return will be 
the period of his taking polTeflion of the throne. 
Perhaps he intends to introduce him in tnumph 
in Port«*al." 

" It feems, at leaft, that they arc very intiT 
mately connected. Do you recolle'A how Hier- 
manfor appeared at night, in a manner equally 
myllerioiii and furpriltng, wh;;n he was fum-- 
Bioneii by the royal Hermit." 

" O ! as for that )uggling trick " 

The Duke ftarted from his chair. " A jug- 
gling trick — this too (hould have b«en a juggling 
Uick, i" 

*' How can you b3 fuiprifed at this difcove- 

" The incident was indeed wonderful enough 
for givmg n-afon to think it fupcriiatural." 

•t You are right. That ariihcc could not but 
produce an allonifbing effect on an uninformed- 
fpcdlator. ■ The Hermit pronounces fome unin- 
telligible words while be kifTcs the piiflure three 
times ; the lamp is extmguiihed and lighted again, 
'as if it were by an inviliblc hand ; a ludden noife 
is heard, and a flame flalhes over the picture. 
All this is very furpriiing. However, if one 
knows ihat the aliar, on which the picture is 
placed, conceals a machine, that the Hcrmii'ft 
hnger touches a fecitt fpring, and this puts the 
wheels of the machine in motion^ that the wick 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



i«». THE VICTIM OP 

in tfie lamp is conne£led vith it, and pulled 
down and up again through- the tube in which 
it is 6tcd ; if one knows how Hiermaafor eater- 
cd the cell, then the whole incident will be di- 
veded of its fupernatuTal appearance." 

" But this very appearance .of Uiermanfor it 
entirely myderioue to me." 

•* And yet it has been efTefted in a Tcry (impk 
manner. A moveable board, which could be 
pufhed to and fro without the Icaft noifc, was 
concealed among thofe of which the cell was 
compofed. Hiermanfor Hole through that hidden . 
avenue as foon as he faw from without, through 
a. fmall hole, the lamp extinguilhed. He could 
enter uitbout the lealidanget of detc^ion, bc- 
caufe you had turned your back towards him* 
and fixed your attention entirely on the altar." . 

" Then every thing had been previoufly pre- 
pared and preconcetted with the King ?'-' 

" Ccitainly I" 

*< And the whole conduA of the King hiaa . 
been regulated by Hiermanfor ? ' 

** Yes, my Lord." 

"The incident," the Duke replied after x 
paufe, " now ceafes, indeed, to appear mira- 
culous to me; however the behaviour of the 
King feems to me fo much the mor* myftcrious. 
How is it poOiblc that this reverend old man 
could confcnt to deceive me in fo degcading a 
manner ?" 

" It was no eafy talk to perfuade him to- it. 
However, after Hiermanfor had cxhaulted his-- 
eloquence in vain, he declared at length proudly, 
that no other choice was left him, than cither 
-leaving his crown for ever in the pofTelTion of an 
ofurper, OT to confent to that innocent artifice. 
ThcKing thouglit hcwas bound to choofe the 
latter, 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



MAGICAL DElUSfON. i€i, 

hu»f^. for the benefit of tRe empire and his pri- 
vate happinefs." 

A long fitence on both (ides. At length the 
Duke -reTumed : "-HierRianfor Ihewed me the 
ghoft of my tutor at the church-yird} by what 
means has-that been eS^£ted?''' 

" Tour Grace will allow me- to lca« this quef- - 
tion unanrwered !** 

" For what reafon ?^ the Dftkc afted with' 
fceming coolncfa. 

« Becaufe my aafwcT wonli explain notlung . 
to you." 

»« Why do you > think fo?" the explanations' 
which you have given me,- u jet, . have been 
Very fatisfaftory to me." 

"They concerned only things which you were 
able to comprehend." 

" Indeed I youpay. tne a very, bad -compli- 
ment l" 

" My Lordi do not mtfaaderftand me, you' 
have been teUuig me a^ittlo while ago, thkt you> 
have not yet been initiated by Hicrmstifor in th«- 
lalt mylteries of his philofophy !" 
*' I did, .but what follows thcDCC ?" ' 
" That you are ftill In want of the know- 
ledge which will be rcqiiifitc, .if you-are to be 
(apabic of comprehending the appearance o£i 
your tutor." 

'• Don't pretend to perfuade me that thisap- 
paridon has-been eifefted- by fupernaiuriL. 
means." 

»' I wUI-^jerfuade yoa to nothing, , I only telL 
you what I know." 

" And I tell you only what I de not believe. 
All the other incidents fliould have been effected 
by delufivc arts, and Anttinio's appearance only 
be excepted?" 

ctv.-.ii,Googlc 



i64 THE VICTIM OP 

" The appearance of Antonio was no decep-* 
tion." 

'• Ton will never make me believe it." 

•• I cannot blame you for it." 

<t Why not i" 

" Bccaufe I have forfeited the right of defcrr- 
ittg credit." 

The Duke was filcnt, viewing the Count at- 
tentively. The latter refumed ; " Befidcs> it is 
very indifferent to me what you think of the 
matter- Hicrmanfor may fct you tight." 

*< How far arc you conne^ed witli Hierman- 
forf" 

" Very much like you. He has made himfelf 
my mailer, and I am fubfcrvient to him." 

" Do you fervc him with reluctance J" 

" With devotion." 

" Then you will know to whom you arc de- 
voted ? 

" I don't know much more of him thatr your 
Grace." 

*' Even that little which you know of him 
would be lemarkable to me, if authentic." 

" I (})Ould tire your patience if I were to re- 
peat to you all the improbable Hories which are 
related of him. There are, however, very few 
credible accounts of him." 

**'I proiell I Ihould be glad to know them." 
■ " Even the true family name of Hiermanfor 
is not known to me. He is faid to have been 
born in Ireland, of plebeian parents. A near 
relation who profefled ailrology, had obferved the 
itars on his birch, and prophcGad great things of 
him. The fame man perl'uaded his parents to 
give him a learned education, which they after- 
waids repented fo much the Icfs, when they 
perceived the altonilhing progrefs in learning 
'hit.!! he made. When he had attained the 
years 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 163 

yean of adolefceace, his relation ioflruCted him 
in mathematics and aftronomjr. The fame of 
Hicrmanfoi's great learning procured him the 
place of governor in a noble family. The cldeft 
daughter fell in love with him, and the language 
of her eyes foon betrayed to him the imprcflion 
he had made on her heart. She was a blooming 
beauty, who had atiradled by her uncommon 
charms,' and reje£led many woows of high rank. 
It had been referved for Hiermanfor to kindle 
in her heart the firft fpark of love, and yet he 
appeared infenlible of his good fortune. But he 
was not. He entertained a high fenfe of the . 
preference given to him : honcfty and prudence 
commanded him, however, to conceal his fen- 
timents for a perfon who was fo far fuperior to 
him in point of rank. Yet youthful age is not 
always capable of maintaining the rigorous dic- 
tates of reafon againll the feducing voice of the 
pafGons, and thus Hiermanfor betrayed, in an 
' unguarded moment, the fecret of his heart, 
which was received with rapture by the young 
lady, and carefully concealed inherbofom. But 
from that moment he refoived to endeavour to 
rife to a (ituation which would permit him to 
woo the hand of his midrcfs without blufhing. 
This bold idea had no fooner taken place in the 
foul of the refolute youth, than he began tode- 
lineatc a plan for the execution of it. Hier- 
manfor thought the naval femce would be the 
ihorceft way of attaining a fplcndid fortune, and 
inltanily navigation became the chief objef) of 
his fludy. He found very foon an opportunity 
of putting his acquired knowledge in priflice, 
which he chiefly owed to the fuppurt of the fa- 
mily in which he had bcsn tutor. The (iroofs 
of uncommon fkill whtcli he gave in naval mat- 
ters, foon railed him to the. rank of a captain, 
when 



r66 THE VICTIM OF 

when bis millrcfi dkd. Hiermanfor Kfignedbn 
piice in the navy, and was recdTcd as iay brother 
m the orderof the Carmelites. Having perform- 
.cd htivov he was-fent to Rome, where 'he got 
.acquainted with a pricft of the fame order, whofe 
-namewas-Fatber Gabriel, and who was famed 
fot his great fkilt in phjGc .and natural know- 
ledge. InftruAcd bj ihatJcarned-min, he im- ' 
proved rapidlf , and acquired at the fame time 
great knowledge in-natural .magic, in ^hich his 
relation bad alreadjr iultruAed him. 

-" A genius like his could not* however, con- 
fine himfclf for a length of time^to cloidered re- 
^trement and a fpcculative -life. His fuperion fcnt 
a minion to the Indiesi and Hiermanfor got 
leave to make that journey with the milTionariei. 
There he is faid to have acquired among the 
Bramins the knowledge of the occult ftiences, 
in the myfteries of which he had promifcd to 
initiate your Grace. X do not know what 
prompted him to leave the order afterwards. 
Hit fupcriors partiiig wi;h him retu^antly, ren- 
dered it very difficult for him to procure difpcn- 
fationfrom his vows. At length he got leave to 
retire, under the condition never to be inimical 
to the cffdcr. — This is all that 2 know of his 
life." 

"Then eveiy thing the magiftrate and the 
Hermit hare related of him is a BCtionl" the 
Cuke enquired after a fhort lilcnce., 

" Not at all !" the Count replied, " almoft 
all thofe accounts are founded on fa£ls, though 
they have .been embelltlhed by fiflitioua epifodes. 
The furprifing fCats of Hieimanfor, of which 
you have been informed, were however e&cAed 
merely by means of natural magic." 

«' For inllance, the delivery of the old King 
from the calllc of St, Lukar — bow has it been 
cffcftcd ?" 

•'it 



MA&ICAL BELUSION. 167 

*' It ceitainlf has been performed by Hier- 
manfor's acutcnefe, though not through him 
alone." 

*' And the apparition of Antonio at> the 
- church-yard — " 

" Has been efic£led by his fupematural pov- 
cr." 

•' Count I by all that is dear to you, by Ht- 
ermanfoi's friendlhip, by our icconciliationt 
what is your real opinion of that apparition ?" 

" That it was c&c£ted by his fupematural 
power !" 

The Duke rofe and prefled the Count's hand. 
•' Have you any fecret wilh which I could fa- 
tisfy i fpealc freely, and I will (atisfy it, cod 
what it will, only make a frank and candid 
confeQion." 

" I hare confeflcd every thing already.*' 

«• If you, perhaps, hefitate to difcOTer your 
real fentiments here, you may fix fome other 
placei and I pledge my honour, that no man 
living ftiall be made acquainted with your fe- 

" My dear Duke ! X have iodeejltold you what 
I think." 

" County Iconjure you, by c«ry thing fa- 
cred, by the horrors of eternity!" here the 
Duke encircled htm with his arms, " by Ame- 
lia's fuirit, Cell me what do you think of that- 
apparition i" 

" I believe tiat apparition to have been ef- 
fe^ed by Hiermanfor's fupematural power," re- 
plied the Count after a Qiort filence. 

The Duke (lepped a few paces back, and hav- 
ing viewed him fome time with a flern took, 
faid, " Your are my prifoner, do you know that 
I can fend you to the dungeon ?" 

*' lam m your power." 

c;m Where 



i68 THE VICTIM OP 

•« Where you will not be mtreaied to fpeat the 
tiuth ?" 

" Even on the lack I fliall not contradia what 
I have raid." 

•« Come !" faid the Duke, after he had walk- 
ed up and down the room . in lilent meditation ; 
«• Come, I will give you fome time for confider- 
ation." — So faying, he led the Count into ano> 
thcr room where he locked him up. 

« What (hall I dO with that fellow?" hefaid 
to me when be returned to us, •« believe what he 
has faid and fct liim at liberty ; or miftrull and 
retainhim ?" 

" Retain him," my reply was ; " if he fees 
that you ar« ii;i eamclt, he cenainly will Con- 
fefs." 

Alumbrado was of the fame opinion, our ad- 
yicc was however neglcfled, for th^ next morn- 
ing when I went to fee the Duke I found the 
Count had already been liberated. The matter 
happened in the Allowing manner : 

•• The Duke had paid him one more vifit at 
nightjinoriler toget fome explanation of Amelia's 
hiltory, alking the Count whether his account of 
Amelia's adventures had been ftridly true, or 
intermixed with &£lion i The Count cotrfefied 
frankly that he had not been very confclentious 
in 'his relation, but had added to his picture many 
fiflitious (Irokcs ; nay, that he had di&iigured 
even the principal incidents by interpolation, in 
order to encreafe by his adventurous taie, the 
Duke's propenfity to wonderful iTicidents, and 
thui to render Amelia more inierefting to him. 
The Duke afkcd him how he could have rilked « 
fraud which the hrft meeting with the Countefa 
could have laid open to him. " I was well 
anare,' the Count replied, '< that you as well as 
Amelia would be prompted by the tender har- 
mony 



MAGICAL DCLUSION. 169 

monywh ichmade your hearts beat in unifon, to 
•void fpeaking of incidents which would have in- 
troduced Amelia's late Lord and her lore for 
him." The DuJce aflted' him whether the Irith- 
man had not afted in concert with LadjQelier i 
** Only as far as he maiTe ufe of her to direfi the 
love that had taken place between jrour Grace 
and Amelia," the Count anfwcred ; ** the con- 
ditions and T^fttictions under which the Baronefi 
was to aflifl in forwarding your mutual union are 
unknown to me." The Count being alkedt whe- 
ther that wonderful note by which Amelia bad 
been rclcafed from her Vow of eternal fidelity t« 
her deccafed Lord, had been a contrivance of 
Hiermanfor's natural Ikill, or the effect of fu- 
pematural power j the Count replied, the latter 
had been the cafe. The Duke had been afTcfled 
fo much by the repeated mention of his Amelia* 
that he began to melt in tears. The Count 
thought this ftatc of mind very propitious for 
regaining his liberty, and obtained it without 
ditliculcy. What could the Duke have refufed in 
that (ituationto Amelia's brother-in-law ? 

Alumbrado feemed to be not lefs difpleafcd 
-with this event than myfelf. My hope that the 
Count would entirely deltroy, by an ample dif- 
covery of the juggling tricks of the Irifhman* 
the Duke's belief in the fupernaiural Ikill of the 
latter wasnow utterly dedroyed, forhe had not 
unfolded the moft important' myftcry ; the appa-' 
rition of Antonio at the church-yard. Tet I de- 
rived fome confolation from the papers of C]air< I 
val, which were ftill in tlie hands of the Duke, 
and propofcd to throw fome light on that estra- 
ordi nary incident. Mf friend bimfelf feemed 10 
entertain the fame hope, and although the papers 
had been partly confumed by the fire, yet he was 
not difcouragedf and undertoolt the laborious. 



lyo THE VICTIM OP 

talk of decypbering tlien. We retired left we 
fhould diflutbhim. 

The next morning Alumbrado came to my pa- 
lace, informing me that he went to pay a vifit to 
the Piikc, but had not been admitted. Ve con- 
cluded from this, that he had not yet finUhed dA- 
cy^cring of the papers. 

The Duke joined us about an hour after with 

floomy toofcs, he gave mc fome writingi and 
lid* ** that is all that 1 could make out { read k - 
and edify yourfelf ," — 

I began to read aloud, " Bclored and trtifty — " 
-(he X^uke interrupted me—*' It ia a letter to 
Hicrmanfor, written by the t.ady of the late 
fhike of B— — a, m a time when he had little 
hope of afcending the royal throne of P** — ^1. 

1< Beloved and truftyl I have read all your 
icttcrgjo our Privy iSecTCtary, along with the 
note by which yoa acquaint him with your intciiw 
lion of introducing Migocl to the Hermit. 1 alf 
ways read your letters with admiration, yet I can* 
not but .confefs thai I bare great reafon to fa& 
4>c£t yoH hare it more at heart to be adnircd* 
4han to gain Uiguel over to our pAty. I fltould 
dunk MtgucL could have been fccuvd to ns in a 
^cr^ eafier, and more expcditiojit manaet, and 
you would have faved yourfelf a .great deal of 
.lime atul trouble if you had attempted it. Why 
thofe fuperfluoos machinationsi why thofe expen- 
fivc, intiicaie, artificial, and give me leave to 
add, thofe fragile machines which fo cafily may 
"bedellroyed ? You could certainly have enfnaicd ' 
Miguel ID a mote limple and a Icfs piecariouB 
jnanner. Machineries Uke thofe wliich yoo hare 
' made uf« of are always liable to the danger of 
being difcovercdby accident, which may nin the 
whoie plan. 

« You 

D5i,z=.JnGoo^5k' 



MAGICAt DELXTSION. 171 

*• You win pei^apt reply, tKit, if be Qionld 
make fuch ^ difcovcty, k would be of little coa- 
fequcnce ; that you know thJa Miguel too well, 
are too fenfible <n your fupcriority, that he can- 
not do without you, tiid that you keep him in 
ehaini which he will not be able to fhtke ofT, 
though yoUT whole miraculous web Ihoulct be dif- 
folred in fmbke. '<, But, if fo, wherefore thofe 
needlefs artifice* i \What benefit will «rife fcom 
your miracles and ghofU I The love intrigue 
with Amelia, and the charm of your eloquence 
would have been fufficient for gaining Mi^el 
over to our party. 

'* I may be miftalcen, yoor proceedines are 
however riddles to me, if I do hot fuppofe that 
an arrogant af^ivity has prompted you to contrive 
extraordinary intrigues, and to have tecourfe to 
'fnarvellouc machineries. People of your genius 
ftrewonttodo fo. Tou defpife the waysof com^ 
mon men, force new roads through infurmounta- 
ble rocks,' entangle yoyr man in numberlef* ma- 
gic fetters, with no other view, tlian to have the 
pleafure of feeing your prifoner infnarc himfelf 
deeper and deeper by his attempts to regain his 
liberty. The Gmple, artlefg turn of a piay, does 
not fuit a genius like your's, which delights only 
in knitting and diflblving intricate knots, and in 
having reconrfe to artificial, complicated ma- 
chines i obftacles and dangers ferve only to give 
additional energy to your adlivity. Miguel was, 
perhapt, only an objcft which was to fcrve you 
for trying your flull and art, in order to fee How. 
far you could rely on your capacities for more im- 
portant opportunities. 

" But however it be, lam rather bound to 

thank you for your zeal to fcrve our caufc, than 

' to criticife the choice of die means you have 

' made ufe of. Accomplilh what you have begun. 



17a THE VICTIM OF 

and you mvf be fure of my favour and aflive 
gratitude." 

While I had teen reading, tlic Duke walked 
up and down the room with hafty llrideS' ' He 
jiDW ftopped. •* Well, Marquis! well, Alum- 
bradol" fa id he, *#do I not sAa charming part 
in this letter i" 

We rtmained fitent, bccaufc wc fa^ that be 
was violently agitated. 

«« They treat me as a liniplcton, as a blo^ck- 
head. Is it not true ?" 

" How you exaggerate it !" faid I. *• They 
afcribe to you want of experience, and that is 
all." 

*' O Marquis, don't you fee in What a tone, 
and with how much contempt the proud woman 
fpcaks of me ?" 

" She is a woman who millakes you." 

** Heavens and caith ! and I Ihould brook her 
injuries without taking revenge ?" 

" My Lord !" Alumbrado faid, ** in what 
relation have you been to the Duchcfs 7 I cannot 
fee theconneuion of the whole a^ir ?" 

The Duke explained this connection to him, 
iby djfcovering the Ihare he had had in the revolu- 
,tion. 

Alumbrado was alt attention during this ac- 
count, and when it was finiOicd Teemed to be ab- 
sorbed in profound meditation. 

" Friend !" faid I to the Duke, «* there are 
fome more written leaves"— ^ 

*' It is hiermanfor's anfwer to the letter yori 
have been reading." 

I read the letter aloud. 

" It ii with no fmall adonifhment that I 6nd' 

■nyfelf called to an account, inthelettcrwhicb 

your Grace did me the honour of writing to me, 

lor a point which I fincerely wilh sever had been 

.,- I men- 

■cv^jCOooglc 



. MAGICAL UELUSION. 1^3- 

mentioned. The remarks you hzvejmde on it 
redound as inui;h. to the honour of your Grace's' 
penetration and fagacitjr, as they tend to mortify 
me by betraying me into a confel^ion, which I' 
would have refufed to make to any mortal living, 
except to To noble a challenger. 

•* My fecond letter to your Privy Secretary, 
explaining' fufficiently the motives which have 
prompted me to gain Miguel over to our party by' 
the arts of natural magic, I think t need not add 
new arguments to thofe contained in that letter,' 
if your Grace will take tbs trouble to rc-pcrufc ' 
and to ponder them attentively. BeGdes there- 
prehenflon of your, Grace is directed lefsagainll 
the means which I have made ufe of, than ag^nft 
the inanner of their application. Tou afk iit' 
your letter, why I have had recourfe tofuohfu-- 
' perfluous machinations, to fuch expenfive, intri- 
cate, artificial, and' Fragile machines ? Indeed 
jOA think too contemptibly <if Miguel. Hii pe- 
netration, as well as his great knowledge, raite 
htm far above the common men of his age ; his 
u ndcrftan ding,, which ' has been improved under ' 
the tuition of an Antonio de Galvez, is not to be * 
impofed upon fo eafily as you think, ficfidcs, 
you will have the goodnefs to confidcr [bathe 
was not the only perfon I had to deal with, and 
that his tutor, who never ftirred from hit fide, ■ 
was always ready te cut afunder the magical 
bonds in which I had entangled him. But why 
do I heCtate any longer 10 tell you the plain'' 
truth ? My defign was not direded againlt Mi- ■ 
guel alone, but onhis tuKfrtoo. It was the molt 
ardent with of my heait to gain this man to our 
patty by my magical arts, and that was it which 
forced me to havd recourfe to fo many machinati- 
ons, and fuch expenfive and complicated ma- 
chines.- If my defjgn upon him had been crown- ■ 
H i •■"»'(i4i 



174 THE VICTIM OT 

*A with fiicctr«, Miguel lao would hare becD an 
taiy and certain conqycft. 

'* If your Grace fhonlJ afk wbat has prompt- 
ed me to form To daring a plan, and what rcafons 
1 had to hope for fuccefs ? I beg you will con- 
defccnd to ponder the following points ; Count 
Galvez was an infurir.ountabIe ebftacle in my 
way to Miguel, whieb. rendered it neceflary ei- 
ther to draw liim in our iHteren, or to remove 
him from his pupil. }t will be obvious to you 
for what reafon I refolved to attempt the former, 
if you will confider how mtich advantage our 
aAairs would have dedved from fo valuable a 
conqueft. If we could have made fure of An- 
tonio, we then fhould alfo have drawn the court 
oi Rome in. our intnelt by his intcrceSion. 
Before the prclent Pope was railed to the papal 
throne, he and a number of perfons of the 
bigheti rank were intimately connected with him. 
We cuuld, therefore, have cxpe^ed to intercll 
for QUI caufe by his tnfiucnce a coun, which 
wilt become our moll dangerons enemy^ if it 
fliould not take our pail ; and I apprehend this 
will be the cafe*. 

•' Whaiatriumph would it have proved to me, 
if I bad liiccceded in tny attempt to fubdue this 
man through my magical operations, and to catch 
in oat fnarc two perfons of fo great an imponance 
to our caufe. The idea of iofnaring the Count 
bymeaus of miracles and ghofts watj indeed, a 
very bold one, but not fo inconfiderate as it may 

* On die Kirgin of the nunufcripc, tht (allonis^ note 
wBt wriciCD by u tmkaown hind : ' Ihe Itilhinui Jui not 
' ban loillkkcn, for 'ioc T'*" "^ ■""' f^ luK* tl>< K*o- 
■lutimilui ukea place, asd tbe aew Kmg of Fort***! bu 
'MtjctbecBiLknovTlcdgcdhj tbe coiul of Reme.' 

appear 

ctv.-!ii,Googlc 



MAGICAL DEtTTSION. 175 

appear at firil Gght. Antonio hat fpent the ear- 
lier years of his youth in a monaftcry at Rome. 
It was not unknown to mc, that experience and- 
meditation have enabled him afterwards to divcft' 
lumfelf of the prejudices which-therc have been 
inllilled in his mind : I was, however, at the 
fame time, well aware that theimprelllans we 
receive in our juvenile days, wc re-produced with 
vivacity on certain occauons. I alfo knew that 
his philofophy does not deny the exiftence of 
Ipirits, and the hope of futurity which- he de- 
fended with enthuliafm, renders the human- 
mind but too prone to give credit to the appari- 
tions of fpirits, if they'have the appearance of 
feality. Even his propenfity to fpeculation, hit' 
fondnefs of folitude,.the intereft he took in fu* 
perfenlitive objc£l*, his melancholy temper^ 
prompted ms to expert that my irtiflcei would 
lind acccfs tohii heart 1 and if the heart ii but 
intereAed for Something, then the underltuidtng 
too is generally i^/f gained. However, he who 
intends to gain it tntlrelj, muft td!« care not to ■ 
expofe his blind fide to a kec^i^fighted and pert 
. genius,. and for thit reafon I -wai obliged to en- 
deavour to carry the iltufion to the highest degree 
of pcobability j. I was under the necelTity of at- 
tempting to- make it impoflible to Count Lriivez 
to pensiratc my deluflons. This will convince 
your Grace that my. plan, how bold foever it 
might have been, has not! been formed without 
probaHUiy of. fuceefs. However, when Count 
Clairval began to cultivate a msre intimate con- 
nexion with Antonio, I was made fcnQble (hat 
my expe£tationg have been too i'aaguiiie. 

*' He entreated mc to give up a defiga that 
never could fuccecd. Prudence commanded me 
to follow his advice, though it mortified my am- 
bition extreme I v. -No ot^E. expedient wa» now 
H 4 lofc' 



156 THE VICTIM OF 

left than to remoTC Count Galvez from his pu- 
pil, becaufe I apprehended that he would ruin 
mjr defign on Miguel. Your Grace knows ho «r 
fuccefsfully this was executed. . 

" Perhaps you will aflc, whether it would not 
have been poffiblc to gain Count Galvez for our 
caufe by fome other means ? I mull reply in the^ 
negative.' Miguel could indeed have been en- . 
fnared by other means, but not more expiditiaiifly ? 
(and every thing depended upon dUpucch), but his- 
tutor never. The latter ia attached to the King. 
«f Sp*'n with unfhaken loyalty, becaufe he 
thinks it his duty to be Foyal ; and a man of fifty 
years, of fo iirm and rooted principles, cannot 
be enticed fioni what he thinks to be his duty, 
before it ceafes to be duty to him. But what 
power Hpott earth could abfolve from a duty fucb 
a man ? Here fupcrnatural powers mult inter- 
fere and abfolve him, beings from itiothcr world 
mud aj^ar as bails. 

" I can fcucely think that the failure of thia 

Elan has originated from a fault of mine, for X 
avc tried every means €>f exhibiting my miracles 
and ghofts in a fliaje of probability. Tet this 
has entangled me on the oiher fide in a very difa- 
ereeable dilemma. Miguel, to whom his tutor 
baa rendered fufpe£led even my mod confummUe 
artifices, muft be kept Heady in the courfe he 
once has taken. I (hall, perhaps, be nccefTitat-' 
ed to perform fomething quite extraordinary in 
order to fix the mind of this wavering young 
man who is conHantly preOing forwards. Thus 
I think to hare given a fatisfaclory anfwer to the 
queftion why 1 have introduced fo expcnCve, 
complicated and artificial machines. 

<• If your Grace ftiould aflc why I have kept . 

my defign on Miguel's tutor fo fccret, then 1 

inuft tell you,, that 1 concealed it fo carefully be. 

, caufc 



MAGICAL DELUSION, 177^ 

caufe I intencted to furprife the confederates un- 
cxpe^edljr by my valual/Ie acquiGrion, if I fliould ' 
have fuccccded ; and if not, to fpare rnyfelf the 
morttfication of haring it faid that I had under- 
taken a talk to which mj powers werenoc equal. ' 
I hope your Grace will reward my frank and 
plain confelfion by burying it in cteraai fecre- 
cy." 

I returned the letter to the Duke, and a long . 
Glence cnfued. He broke it firft. ■ 

"■ My friend, you know my adventures with ■ 
thii IriQiman, what do you think of him V* 

" How can you alk that quellion after all the 
difcoveries we have already made ?" 

*< I wifh to have it anfwered by you." 

" I think,"'faid I in a pathetic accent, " that 
Irifhman mull be a fiipetnatural being/' 

•' Ridicule /ne as long as you pleafe — I cannot 
but confefs that he is, neverthelefs, tncomprehen- 
Cble to me," ■' 

" My dear Duke, I know what I am to think ■ 
of the Irifliman, but I fcarcely know what to ' 
think of you." 

'f You difapprovc of my connection with that 
man." 

" Very much." " 

" Teil me your fenthnents without refervc i - 
I know you have had a ftrong deCre for fome time 
to come to an explanation with me." 

(' fou have been ill* and I wilh to fpare 
you.'" 

<' Idon't vrantyourforbearance. Speak." 

" At another time, my friend, at anothei 
time." 

" No delay. Alumbrado is no Itranger to my 
hiftory, and confequently may heu your obfer- 
vation on it." 

ctv.-.ii,Googlc 



178 THE VICTIM Of 

" ir ;ou infill upon it, then I moil tell you 
that I am cxtrecntrlf rcxed at the idea that the 
fallow, who dared to fport withyour undcrfUnd- 
Ing has enjoyed the triumph of guiding you- m 
leading-firings whitherrocvcr he chofe. I an 
glad that you have rendered his magical labours 
fo toilfome ; I am rejoiced at the refiitance which 
you have oppofed to hie attacks ; but it grieves me 
that he has conquered you fo dilhoneAly and art- 
fully, i cannot but confcis the anifice to which 
jour penetration yieldedi has been enonnovs ;.; 
however, I am angry with you becaufe the man 
whom you really had difcovered to be a cheat,, 
fucceeded a fecond time ia gaining yourcotili- 
dencc.'" 

<* Do you theji imagine that the Irifliman has- 
impofed on me in the latter period of our con*- 
neclion as well at in the beginning of it ^ 
It Undoubtedly." 

** That this occult fcience confifts merely iit- 
juggling tricks t 

" tnaoftfro/art* of allkind.'^ 
•* By what natural means could he htTC tS~ 
fc^ed the apparition of Antonio at the church* 
yard ?" 

« I cannot tell ; however, wc Oiould proba- 
bly bare learned it from thf Coupt if he had cot 
been fuffeied tocfcape." 

•■ lam glad you remind me of the Count.- 
Whj did be rcfiife fo ob&inauly to explain that 
incident in fpite of my prayers and menaces, . de- 
claring folcmnly that it hod been cficfled by fu- 
peraatural means, although he has-canjidly dif-- 
covered the reft of tiic dclufiona of the Irilhmao. 
What benciit could he exp«£l ftom deceiving me 
Wj longer, the revolution being eftablilhedv and 
ooofequently his end attained i' 

" Has he not confefi^d riiat he ii in the fer- 

Tice ol the Iiillunaii i Can you knew what orders 

- - kc 



^ AG re A L DTE i:. ITS TO N". 179.. 

liic has Mccived from his eftiplojrer i Was not 
the Veil of myfter^ which the Count has thrgwn 
OTcr that incident, the only remaining mean of '■ 
fupporting the authority of his lont ami mzftei? 
Who knows what he woutd hare confeJCnl if you 
had (hewn si firm fcfolutionto enforce your me- 
• oaces?" 

** I confefs I afted very weakly ind iraAily, in ' 
fufTering him to efoape fofoon." 

" At bottom it matters very little. What 
confidence could you have repofed \o the confef- 
Gon of' a many who on a former. occaGon has im- 
pofedoa you in fo Ihamclefs and daring a man- 
ner i And what will yon fay if I prove to you that - 
he has belie<t you the iaft time too P*' 
" Tou allonilh mc." 

" Don't you recoUeft that he prctwided the ■ 
note through which Amelia has been abfblved 
from her vow b^ her late Lord, to have been the 
cfFeA of Hiermanfor's fupcrnaturat power ?* 

" Not only the Cotint, .^icrmanfor too hat 
tiade mc believe it." 

■■ Both of them have- told you^s baTc-^csd^ 
lie," 

'< Friend, how will you be able to make good ' 
yout charge ?" 

•' By proving : that pretended mirada to be a ' 
juggling trick."" 

" You have raifed my -expeflatibn to the high- 
eH pitch." 

'* I hare learned that tnck-of aju^Ierj and: 
I-amfure that which the Jriflunan has made ufe ' 
of is the fame. He gave Amelia a blank flip of 
paper, and direded her to write the qucftion on 
the upper part of it. Here you mufl regard three 
points ; firll of all, that he ffitifilf gave the pa- 
ppt to Amelia i fecondly, that hi deCttd the 
^ueftim 

C4v=.JnGoOglc 



l8o THE VICTIM OF 

qnedion to be written on the upper part of it ^ 
and thirdly that be difUccd the qucftion to her ; 
he then pat the paper on the table, fumigated 
the apartment with an incenfe of his own com- 
. poiitton, and reqtl.efted the CoDntefs to look at 
the paper in the morning. It was very natural 
that the anfwer to the quedbn was fecn beneath . _ 
it, having been written by fym^Mhetic ink t^e 
preceding erening, but (irft rendered viOble in 
the night hj the fumigation. Very likely it baif 
been written by the Count, who co\iId imitate, 
the hand-writing of my brother." 

The Duke gazed at mc a [ong while, feJzed 
with dumb aftonilhment. At length hC'clapped- 
his hands joyfully, exclaiming, *< O ! my ftiend^ 
what a light have you call upon that dark myfte* 
rious ai^ir. " 

"A light," my reply was, *' that will aflilt 
you to fee clearly how difhoneftly the Irifhman 
and the Count have dealt -with you to the laft. 
They endeavoured to perfuade you that you had 
been deceived at firft, merely for the fake of 
probation, and that ^ou had been paid witN 
rterling truth after Palefki's difcovery. Poor de- 
ceived man ;■ you have always been befet, witii' 
lies and delulions ; the fole point in which they 
differed from each other, conliQing merely in the 
fuperioT art which the latter impoHtions were 
contrived with." 

« Then you believe that the apparition at' the 
church-yard has alfo been a deception, like the 
incident with the miraculous ootc." 

" Yes, I have every reafon to think fo. When 
I have once caught a perfon in the aA of commit- 
ting a fraud, I then have the grcatefl right to fup- 
pole that he has repeatedly impofed upon m: ; and 
when I am convinced that he has frequently de- 
ceived me, I then have the greatell reafon to con- 
clude that he has cheated me the lail time alfo." 
"Then 



MAGICAL DELUSION. i8t 

«< Then you tlilnk a real'apparitioti^of ag'ioft. 
to be impoflible." 

"Why do you a(k that queltion ? All that 
we have to decide at prefenC, is whethei the Irifti- 
manorany-ma» living can effedl fuch an appari- 
tion." 

*• Tou want to evade my queftipn." 
'• Indeed not I"' 

«' Then tell me do you think apparitions of 
ghoftsto bcpoffible? 

" TcH me, docs not this queftion imply, that, ■- 
are men capibie of feeing, ghofts?" , 
" Certainly," 
"That I deny."' 
. " Yon think that no man living has that capa-< ■ 
city." 

" And'notwrfhOut reafon. We can fee only 
ihofc objc£ls which throw an image on the retina - 
of the eye, and confequently only expamled' 
things; a fpirit ha^ no cxpanlion,, and there-- 
fore cannot b« fecn by us."' 
" You cut it very (hort,"' 
" My argument is valid."^ 
" Yet you have demonftratcd nothing elfe but 
that we cannot fee pure fpirits ; wc may, never- 
thelefs, be capable of feeing fpirits in bodily 
clothing." 

" This I grant without the leaft befitauon, 
for daily experience proves it. We {es men, of" 
courfe wc fee fpirits in iodily clothing." 

" You fancy to efcape me by this turn ; but 
you arc miftaken. You allow that we can fee 
Ipiritsif clothed in a-bodiiy covering." 

•< What we yJe is always- nothing but the bo- 
dily covering i but we muft renrW^ by other 
marics and circumftances, . whether it be inha- 
bited by X fpirit. Be(ides« there is in the whole 
' ~ dominioa of our fenfibU knowledge not one be- 
. , " ing 

ctv.-.ii,Googlc 



tti TTTE ATCTTM OF 

ingthat anfwers OUT idea of fpirit ; this idea lias 
been produced merely by ttafoning, and therefore 
a fpicit never can become an objc^ of our ptrcep- 
tion." 

••Very ftrangc !" the Duke replied, {bak- 
ing his head ; " the Irifllinan has faid much the 
fame, and neverthelefs, he bit upon an ezpc 
dient of proving to me the poffibiliiy of appa- 
ritions." 

" I have read that argument ; it is takisir- 
fVom the dtaleflic. Tliis circumltance alone 
ought to have made you fufpe£t it. Or are you 
fuch a novice inthat iciencc that yon QioiHd not' 
know how pliable it i» to accommodate itfelf to 
a)l o^nions i Thofe philofophen who fancy alt 
rtic beings of the whole creation to be fpirits, 
as well as thofe who deny the cxiftence of God, 
djaw their arguments from that fourcc. Is therc- 
any abfurdity that could not be fitted to that bafc-- 
ltf» philofophy- ?*' 

mYou- are carrying matters too far. The- 
Triflunan did indeed propound fevcral poStions,. 
which by. their evidence enforce their claim tO' 
truth." 

** 'liavl do not deny. A great deal of philofo- 
pbical penetration is however required, if one 
Ihall be able to difccm the truth and fallehoodi . 
which Its-a&rlion Imply in a Itrange and motly 
mixture. One feels indeed, frequently, . the 
falfehood t! ft^hiftical fubtiltiet . vtihout being 
able to refute them." 

" I fhould be glad to know what you have to . 
objefl againft the doArine of the Iiiflunan con- 
cerning the poffibility of apparitions ?" 

•• In order, to do this, it will be QCceSary 
previoufly to abftra£lliis do£lriuc, 

" When a fpirit," the Irilhmaa laySt *' operues ' ' 
on noinef thcnbe is prefent to inc< U I were 
' ~" - - ainere ■ 

ctv.-.ii,Got>5li' 



MAGICAL DELTTSrON; iffa- 

1 mere rational beiti^, I tfacti OiouM be fatisG- 
ed with imagining, the prcfcnce of the fpirir,. 
id'tbtut mjic\i \ but Cnce I am a fenlible being- 
bjr virtue oF my nature* mj imagination forms a 
cDrpoTcal idea of the objeA whicKmy undcrftand- 
ing t}^nki ; that ii, it formi an image of it. The 
prefence of a Ipirit, therefore, puti mj inferior' 
inldleflual powers in motion by means of the fu- 
perior ones \ Ido not onfy imagine it merely with- 
out myfelf, but I perceiTC, at the fame time, a 
ftiape anfwcrable to it; I not only collet the. 
ideas which he produces in my mind, but, at 
the fame time, flu pe them in words. In (hortr- 
I fee the fpirit and hear, him fpeak.— —Do you 
diink, my friend, that.T have comprehended' 
die doflrine of the IiiDiman ??' 
" Perfeflly I" 

<*-The fliape in which I fte the fpirit is,, 
oonfequenily no real fubftance, but only the; 
produ^ of my lenfUtve gower of percep;|ion, of 
my imagination." 
" Very right." 

"Confe^eotlf,. the feeing of a fpirit is,, 
indeed, £oandcd on a fpirituaJ influx, which, 
however, is formed and (faaped at plcafure 
by our imagination:, therefore, on every ap- 
parition of fpitits truth would he imtermiKed 
witbiUuGoa, and the notions which have been-, 
isflillcd.iooui minlby our. education, and alt' 
the prejudices wc have imlnbed in our infancy*, 
would act ao important pact oo c*ery' occafioa 
^ that kind?" 

*< I pcvceive whit you are aiming aL" 
. ■•Then tell me, what would the gift eife** 
ing fpiritt si>d ghofts benefit ui, fines the Ipirttu* 
al iSt£t could not but be interwoven &> clofely with 
tju pbatuoms of- QUI imagination^ that it -would 
bc- 

D5-,z=.JnGOOglC 



i?4 THE VICTIM OF 

he impoflibic to difccrn 'reality from tha grof«-' 
iUulions which it U furrounded with ?" 

The Duke was abforbed in (ilent meditation, 
tnd I continued — -". ; 

*' Don't you fee that /upn^irian thus would 
be at full liberty to cxercife in fway over us, 
becaufe we (hould be li;d to believe that even 
the mod abfurd delufioni of oui imaginaiion 
cfu/d pjfihly be founded on a fpiritual influx ?" 

The Duke continued to be lilcnt, and I re- - 
fumed :— 

••And don't you fee that it would be irn- - 
[^flible to difcera a gholl -fecr from a lunatic ?" ' 

llie Duke ftarted up : " How, from a luna-^ 
tic ?" 

• ■Undoubtedly; The chaiaflerillic of luna<-' 
cy cooftds in miltaklig mere objeO^s of the ima- 
gmation for real fubft'ances, exilting without. 
ourfeWes, the original caufe of which is a con-- 
vullton of the veiTels of our brain, which arc 
put out of their equilibrium. This fufpeufioni 
of thecquttibriuni can arife either from wcaknefs 
of nerves, or from^ too ftroug a prtfliirc'of the 
blood towards the head, and mere ' phantoms of' 
our imagination chen appear to us, even while 
awake, to be real objcdls without ourfelves. Al- 
though fuch an image Ihould be but faint at firlt, 
yet the confternation at fuch an apparition, fo 
contrary to the natural order of things, would 
foon excite the attention, and impart to the 
phantom a vivacity that would not fuffer the de- 
luded perfon to doubt its reality. It is tbereforb 
very natural \ for the viOonatj fancies be fees 
and hears very plainly, what no perfon befidcs 
him perceives, or imagines he fees fuch phantoms 
appear and difappear fuddenty, when they are. 
gamboling only before out fcnfc, that of ftght, 
without 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



MAGICAL DELUSION. i8s 

\ntIiout being perctived through another fenfc ; 
for example, that oi fetliug, and therefore ap- 
pear to be pcoctTabic. The diftcmper of the 
vifionary docs not aiFe£l the undcrftanding imme- 
diately, but only the fenfes; in confequence of 
which the unhappy wretch cannot remove the 
deludon by arguments of reafon, becaufe the 
real or fuppofed perception through the fenfes, 
always anteceiles the judgment of the undcr- 
flanding, and pofflefles an immediate evidence ^ 
which far furpaJTfs all refle£lion. For which 
reafon I can blame noperfon who treats the 
choll-feers as candidates for tlje lunatic hofpitat, 
niflead of looking upon them as people belong- 
ing, partly, to another world." 

" blarquis, Mjrquis.P' the Dultc faid, finil- 
ihg, " you ufe the gholt>feers very ill. I Ihould 
leave them entirely at your mercy, if the Irifh- 
man had not promlfed to communicate to me a 
criterion by which one can difcern real appari- 
tions from vain phantoms of the imagination." 

" It is a pity he has only promifed it, it being 
probable that this promife will not be performed' 
with greater pun^ualiCy than the reft of bis en- 
gagements." 

" The erent will prove how much you wrong 
him." 

*' But what would you fay, if I could prove 
that he can. communicate to you no criterion of 
that nature ?" 

" If you could do this — " 

" Nothing is caficr. The criterion whereby 
a real apparition of a gholt could be difcerncd 
from an illufion, mull be either external or in- 
ternal : that is, you mull be able to afcertain the 
prefence of a ghoft, either by means of your 
fenfes, or by conclufions deduced from the 
, imprcffion 

"' ' c4v=.JnGooglc 



i86 THE VlCTtM OF 

impreflion your miml receiTcs. Don't Jtou thinlc 
fo i" 

" It would be much Ctfer if thefe two cri- 
terion s co-exifted." 

" It would be (ufficicnt if onl^ one of ihefe 
two CTtterions were pofTibte. How;vcr yea (ball 
fooii be convinced that neither can be proved. 
Whatever you perceive, or fuppofe you perceive 
by means of your fenfes, in cafe of an appari- 
tion, ii either a real material object, whereby 
.perhaps an impoftor, perhaps nature, who is to 
inexluutlible in her e&e£ls, or an accidemal 
meeting of uncommon incidents furprifes yon i 
or it is an objefl that exilts no where but in 
your heated imagination ; what you perceive* 
throu^ your fenlcs never can be the fpirit him- 
felf, bccaufc fpirits are incorporeal beings, and 
therefore neither can be fecn, heard, nor felt t 
it is, confcquently, evident that no external 
criterion of the realitr of an apparition oin. 
exni."- 

*• This, I think, cannot be difputed." 

** But .there exifts perhaps an ititeinal crite- 
rion. In drder to decide this qurllioii, let as 
con (idcr what paflesin the human mind when a. 
gholt appears. Firll of all, a lively idea of tho. 
prefence of a ghofl takes place, and fenfatton*. 
ef terror, allonilhment and awe arife— however 
this idea and ihcfe fenfations, may be nothing 
etfe but the confequence of an uncommon, 
though natural external imprellion of a fevcrifh 
fancy, and confcquently never can be indubita^- 
ble proofs of the prefence of fpiriis. But per- 
haps the prefence of fpirits is afcenained by the 
co-cxillcncc of certain epctraordinaiy notions, 
fenfattons, and cognitions ? This too cannot be, 
for we muft be convinced thar they could not 
wife in our Ibul in a natural manner, if wc fliall 
be 



MAGICAL DELTTSIOK. 187 

be able to afcertam their having been produced 
by the influence of a fpirit. In that cafe it would 
be rcquifite we fhould know the whole ftorc of 
our clear and obfcure ideas, all their reciprocal 
relations, and all poflible compofiiions which 
our imagination can form o{ them, a knowledge 
that is rcfcrved onljr for the omntfcient Ruler of 
the worlc*. If we happen fometimes, in our 
dreams, to have 'the mod wonderful vilioni, 
to reafon in the moll fcniible manner, to difcover 
new truths, and to predict incidents which af- 
terwards really happen ; why ihould not the 
fame faculty of the foul which produces fuch 
uncommon efFcfla in our dreams, furprife.us 
fometimcs with fimiUr operations while we are 
awake, when it is agitated in a violent manner i 
In fhort, my friend, there exills neither an in- 
ternal nor an external criterion whereby we could 
afcertain the reality ot an apparition.'* 

*'Ohow infufHcient is human reafon I" the 
Duke groaned, ■■ how ambiguous the faculty 
through which we fancy we refemble the erod- 
ed head, and that guide* us mudi unfafer than in* 
Itin^ directs brutes. But a Ihott time fmce I 
thought it to be confonaitt with reafon to believe 
in apparitions of ghods, and now 1 am convinced 
of the contrary. Your arguments have pulled 
down what thofe of the Iriihman have con- 
Itrufted, and thus 1 am condantly driven from 
one belief to the oppolitc one. Where (hall I 
find, at length, a fixed point to reft upon ^ O I 
how happy ii he, who undillurbed by the rcdlefs 
inltinft of thinking, and of inveitigating the 
nature of things, rel^s in the lap of faith !" 

I had not yet recovered from ray altonilhment 
at the fpcech of the Duke, when Alumbrado 
alkcd me, after * fhort paufe : 

" Thca 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



iSS THE VICTIM OF 

*' Theii you think it. abfutd to beliere in the 
polTibility of apparitions ?" 

« A belief that has no firm foundatioa is ab. ' 
far a." 

" You then think every apparition, howcrer 

be fhaped — " 

■< Is deluGon, the fource of which arifes ci< 
thcr from external natural caufcs, or flows from 
our bewildered imagination, or from both at 
once." 

*' One qucllion more C the Duke faid, ■ 
-"What do you think of the occult wifdom. 
which Hiermanfor is faid to have learnt from the 
Bramins ?" 

"Tfattc it conlifts hi a profound knowledge 
of pbyfic and natural hiftory.'* 

" And the fupernaiural power he iaboadia^ 
of— ?" 

«' Is nothing but a (kitful application of that ' 
Vnowledge ?'' 

The Duke remained Glent for fome time, and 
then refumcd ;— 

" You think it impoflibic for mortals to ac- 
quire a fupematural power l" 

I fmilcd. 

*• It fccms you deny alfo the poflibility of mi- 
racles !" Alumbrai!o faid with a dreadful look 
which he however foon fwcctened again. 

" I am convinced of the poffiaitity of mira- 
cles," I replied, «becaufeit>s felf-cvident that 
God, who is the author of the laws of nature, 
can alter and fufpetid them ; but this only the 
Creator can do j man, confequently, is not 
capable of working miracles." 

•■ But men can become inftrumcnts in the 
hand of God," Alumbrado continued, '• whei^e- 
by Providence performs miracles I" 

« Uudoubt- 

D51,z=.JnGOOglC 



MAGICAL DELUSION. , 189 

<• Undoubtedly, but no wretches lilce the 
Iriflinian. The eternal fource of truth' and 
hoUnefs can never employ, as an immediate 
inftrument, an impodor who deals in lies and 
artifice." 

" Where will you find a mortal without 
fault i" the Duke faid, " indeed you are too 
much prejudiced againft. the Irifiiman. He 
did not deceive me out of malice or felfilh- . 
nefs, but only for the fake of a juit and. noble 
purpofc." 

" Aft ions th^t are in themfelvcs immoral, 
.like impofiiion and lies, neve^ can be rendered 
nrioral by ihe juflnefa of their end, and an organ 
of the Godhead never can employ means of fo 
"culpable a nature. But, my friend, if you 
really are perfuaded the furtheranct of there- 
volution to have been a noble and juH aftion, 
why has the Irilliman been obliged to exert all 
his arts to prevail on you to alTiil in the execution 
of that undertaking ?" 

The Duke call his eyes to the ground, and 
Alumbrado left us. Miguel feemed to be p^ne- * 
trated with (hame and confufion, and continued 
for fome time to keep het eyes rivetied to thf 
ground without uttcring'a word. 

I took him affeflionately by the hand;-" It 
was not my intention to tell you my opinion 
of your adventures with the Iriihman tif Alum, 
brado's prefcnce i you have forced me to dp 
it, and 1 could not help telling my mind freely." 

" L thank you for it." 

" Your obftinacy and my franknefs may proTC 
fatal to mN." 

" How fof" ' 

" It will perhaps coft me my life and liberty." 

" I do not i;*mprehend you." 

*•- I'liavc declared myfelf againft the belief in 



ty> THE VICTIM OF 

apparitions, and Alombrado Is perhaps at prefcnt 
on the road to the inquifltion, in otdcc to inform 
againft me." 

*• Have you not yet conquered your prcja- 
diccs againU him ? Don't be uncafy, and ceafe 
judging unjuftly of a man againft whom you 
nave no reafon of complaint, ciccpt a counte- 
nance which you do not like." 

•' Tou did notobferrc the-fiend-Iikc look he 
darted at me. O aiy friend, whatever may be- 
fall nic, i will fubmit willingly to it, if | have 
fucccedcd in recalling you from yoat errors !'* 

" I thank you for your love, but I apprehend 
Very much I am one of thofc unhappy fnen of 
whom you have been faying, that no arguments 
of reafon can remove their delulion. I am fenfi- 
bte that my fcnfation has an immediate evidence, 
which overpowers every perfuafion of the un- 
derftanding— this I am ienCblc of, as often as 
I recall to my mind the apparition at the chutcb- 
yard." 

•* Too view me with looks of pity," the 
•Duke continued after a (hort paufe, *< I divinfc 

four thoughts. However, if you had feen what 
have witnefled — " 

" Then I (hould have been aQonilhcd at the 
trtful delulion, and the dexterity of the Irifii- 
man." 

" And at the fame time would not have been' 
able to conceive, as well as myfclf, how it could 
have been performed in a natural manner." 

" I gram it } but I never conclude that ».ny 
thing has been performed by fupcrnatural means,, 
bccaufe I cannot comprehend how it could have 
been eiFcdled in a natural manner. There was a 
time when you fancied the apparition in Anie- 
lii'i apartmeni to have been eiedicd by fup<i:rna- 
tural means, and yet it was not Co. Who would 
have ■ 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 191 

Iiwre the childilh arrogsnce to fade; his iMel- 
leftual &cultiics to be the Icale of the powers of 
nature, ^nd his knowledge the limit of human 
art ? — Hoirevcr the apparition of the church- 
yard has fomc defc£tSt which its author could 
not cfiace in fpite of his dexterity, and whidi 
cafily would have difpeUcd the delufion before 
the eyes of a cool obfet ver. The Irifbman could 
iiot give to the phantom the acecnt of Anto- 
nio's Toicc, how ikilfully Ibever he imitated his 
fcatuies. That the apparition did not move his 
eyes and lips, nor any limb, is alfo a fufpiciout 
circumdancc, that proves the limits of the ar- 
tificer's ftiJl. But what reudcrs the reality of 
the apparition moft fufpicious is, undoubtedly, 
your friend's ignorance of whzt hij pretended 
j^irit (confequcntly his proper _/t^ told vou at 
the church-yard ; for if he had known any thing 
of it, he would not have concealed it from the 
Prinice of Br^ganza, in whofe arms he died, 
much Icfs from you iq his farewell letter. Fi- 
nally if you conCdcT what your tutor has told 
the Prince about his llatuc, which has been cut 
in wood during his impri£i3nmciit» you will find 
it very prpbaible that the Irilbman has made ufc 
of it in fooie manner or other for effetHng that 
-delul)on.. 

The Puke ftued vt nte like a perfon fuddenly 
roufed fjrum a profound flecp. — "Marquis!" 
he faid, at length, *< you have opened my eyesi 
but my unwo-it looks are uijiabic to penetrate 
another fa^ I cannot expel from my memory." 

•' Again an apparition—?" 

<■ Which, however] did not happen to mtf 
but to my father." 

" You mean the apparition of Count San* ?" 

»• The yery fame." 

Your 

c:v.-.ii,Googlc 



192 THE VICTIM OF 

*< Yoar/alltr has related to me all the parti- . 
culars of it i I have refleAed upon it, and ima- 
gine I am capable of explaining it in a natural 
manner. Your father rcceiTcd, two days before 
the gholl appeared to himi a letter, by which 
he was informed that the Count wai dangeroutljr 
ill, and that his life was defpaired of on ac- 
count of his advanced age. This intelligence 
afTe^led him violently, and the idea of the im- 
pending difTolution of his dearell fpend, pre- 
vailed in his mind from that moment. 'ITie 
melancholy of your father fecmcd to encreafe 
hourly, teduced htm in the day to the Hate of a 
dreaming perfon, and didurbed his re It at night. 
As often as he awoke in the fecond night, lie 
fancied he hsard fomcbody groan, yet the groan- 
ing perfon was undoubtedly nol>ody but himCclf, * 
and the caufe of his groans originated from the 
prefliire of the blood againft the brcafl. 'Ehls 
■ prefTurc awakened him once more, early in- the 
morning, with fome violence ; he fell again 
aflecp a few n-Jnutcs after, and it was very na- 
tural that the objeft of the dream that flole up- 
on him Ihould be no other but Count San*. 
Your father millook that dream for a real ap- 
parition, and nothing is more pardonable than this 
felf-dcceit. The only circumftance that renders 
this incident remarkable, ,is, that the Count re- 
ally expired in that very hour. However, I aft 
you whether it be , fo very (ttange, if our imagi- 
nation, wliich deceives us fo many thoulatnl 
tim:es by its delulions (hculd at length^ coincide 
once accidentally with the truth ?" 

*' One rather ought to wonder," the Buke 
replied, •' that this is fo rarely the cafe." ■ 

" Here you have two indances of apparitions," 

I refumci., *• which agree in their being delufi* 

onSf only with that diHerence^ that one of them 

which 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 193 

"which happened at the diurch-prd originated 
^m external caufes^ and the other from the . 
imagination of your father. We are not always 
fo fortunate as to be able to explain apparitions 
in fb natural 3 manner ; our incapacity and ig- 
norance gives ns, however, no right to think 
that they are fdpernaiural." '-s^ 

*• You think then thai the belief in appariti- 
ons and the influence of fpirits originates niereljr 
from ignorance i" 

" Certainly ', when man was yet In , his ui^o- 
lilhed ftate, and ignorant of the laws of nature 
and of thinking, the uncirlRfed mortals could 
not butobferve many external phenomena which 
they could not explain, their Itock of experi- 
mental knowledge not being equal to that talk. 
Necelfitatcd by the law of reftfon to fearch for 
the caufc of every efl«£t, they fubftitutcd un- 
known caufes, when unable to hnd out any that 
were known to them, and miftook thefc powers 
for fpirits, becaufe they were invjfible to them, 
though they perceived their ciTc&s." 

<* I do not deny, my friend, that the original 
fource of the belief in apparitions, and the in- 
fluence of fpirits, has taken its rife from an evi- 
dently falfe concluGon. It has however been fre- 
quently the fate of truth that its difcovcry was 
founded on erroneous premifes ; confequently 
the manner in which an idea is generated cannot 
render its internal truth fufpe&ed, provided it 
be fupponed by other valid arguments." 

'* Your remark is very juft and true, yet it 
cannot be applied to the [Jrefent cafe, for 1 have 
already proved that we polTefs neither an external 
Bor an internal criterion by which we could dif- 
cem the influence and apparition of thoic invifi- 
ble beings, and that we confequently have no 
fufficient rcafon to believe in their exigence. 

Vol. II. I This 



194 THE VICTIM OF 

This too I will not corned. You have, how- 
ever, pTOVcd only the impolGbility of finding 
out a cTitenon by which we could difcern the 
real influence of fpirilS, but not the impoiTibility 
of that influence itfelf. It may yet be fuppofcd 
that thefc beings can produce apparitions with- 
out, and efle^s within ourfelrcs, and that vc 
■Tc fConne^cd with them in an efleftual and fc- 
cTct manner. While this internal impoflibilicy 
is not proved, it wj!l not be abfurd to imagine 
that men who mortify their fcnfuality, who arc 
entirely abforbed in meditation, and fix their 
looks merely on fuperterrcllrial things, may be 
faroured more frequently with the influence of 
ipiritual beings, and a more intimate conne£lion 
with them." 

" I will not pretend to fay that this ciafs of 
jncn qualify themfelves for ghod-fcers by the 
mortifications you have been mentioning ^ it is 
however certain, that ihey are in a fair way of 
^coming fanatics and madmen. At the fame 
*imc, 1 think it very imprudent to facrificc every 
.earthly pleafure, to negle^ the duties we owe 
to human fociety, on account of the poflibllity 
,of a matter, .the reality of which is founded on 
no argument whatever. It is no abfolutc im- 
poiTibility that I ihould one time be made a Man- 
^darin of China, yet the bare polSbility of it 
will certainly not induce me to trouble my head 
with the Itudy of the Chinefc Hale politics in 
order to qualify myfelf for that dignity. More- 
ever, it is not only poflible, nay, it is probable 
that the moon is inhabited by raiional beings, I 
ihall neverthelef^ certainly not be anxious to give 
any offence to the man in the moon by my ac- 
tions. But to be ferious, my friend, iht point 
of your queltion is not, whether it be poOible fpi- 
rits fliould have an influence on us and external 
objefls. 



MAGICAL DELUSION, 195 

cbjc£ts, but whether we really do poflcfs a cer- 
tain and deciftve criterion whcrcb;^ we can af- 
certain the reality of that Infiuence ; and I ttunk 
1 hav« fuiEciently proved that we poflefs none. 
Kay I even maintain, that if Tomething fliould 
not only be polEble, but alfo really extft, yet its 
cxiflcnce is no concern of mine, while I cannot 
afcerrxin its exiftence by a fufficicnt ground, 
while it does not ni»iifcft its cxiftencc to my 
knowledge by certain and indubitable criterions." 
"But your objc^ion," I. refumeJ after a 
ihoTt filence* " may be purfued ftill further. 
You maintain that I could not prove the inter- 
nal impoffibility of the influence of fpirltc <on hu- 
man bcingSi and thus far you are right j but I 
have an equal right to maintain that you alfe 
«aitnot prove ^eir real impofftbUity \ for in that 
cafe it would be requilitc to know not only what 
a fpirit is according to our idea, but alfo what it \% 
in itjtlf; and that only the Author of fpirita can 
know. We know our own foul only by iis ef- 
fe£ts, and no m<»'tal can explain the tjfeniial nof 
tare of this firft caufe of all our ideas and acti- 
ons. For that very reafoa it ever will be con- 
cealed from us whether it is related at all tB 
fpirits here below, and what the nature of that 
relation is ? Herci my friend, arc the limits of 
human reafon, beyond which we cannot proceed 
without falling in with the empty fpace of fo- 
phiftical phantoms. While you Ihall remain 
within the lawful boundaries, you never will have 
reafon to complain of the infufficiencj of human 
reafon, as you have done jufi: now. It is crimi- 
nal arrogance to overleap the facred limits, to 
which Providence has confined it; for the eter- 
nal wifdom of God is equally entitled to our re- 
gard by what it has denied, as by what it iias 
granted ut. Dcfccnd, therefore, my friend 
1 Z dc 



196 THE VICTIM OF 

defcend from the empty fpacc to which lh£ 
Jrifliinaii bad feduccd you> to the firm ground 
of espciicnce and common fnife I Happjr is he 
who looks upon this ground as a poft allotted to 
him, which wc can ncrer tran^jeft without be- 
ing puniflied, and which impHrs every thing that 
can afford ug fatisfa^ion, while *e keep firm to 
what is ufeful." 

About fix weeks after this convCTfaiion I h*p- 
pencd, one night, to fup with the Marquis in 
the company of his fon and Alumbrado. Our 
difcourfe on the new government was growing 

.»ery warm, when the clock in the room ftrticK 
ten. Atumbrado fuddcniy grew deadly van, 
and feemed to be Itmck dumb ; his eyes ftared 
at one fpot, and he rcfemhkd a lifielefs ftatue. 
We looked at each other with adonifhment ; .the 

.old Marquis was the fitft who called to him, but 
deceived no anfwer, and llarted up fcizcd with 
vterror, The Duke and jnyfclf followed his ex- 
ample ; our cndca.vo.nrs torcftore Alumbnido to 
rficoUefiion ,w«r^ however, fruiilefs ; he re- 
mahied in profound ftupefaflton. Not knowing 
what had happened to him, wc were going to 
fend for a phjCcian, when he tofe from bis 

.jchair like a peifon to whom nothing uncommcn 

JiSs happened, and told us with the grmneft un- 
ccMicem, *' This Tery moment a ftrange accident 

ias happened 300 miles from hence. At "Ji*, 
at the Sun Tavern, tlic pitlure ot ihe new King 
which was hung up in the dining room, gave oc- 
cafion to a di^urfe concerning him. One (^ 
the guells faid a great deal 10 his ptaifc, raairi- 
felUng, at the fame time, a flYong apprchenfion 

ttat the King of S n might not fubmit ft» 

quietly 10 the lofs of the crown of P 1, and 

lethaps, reclaim it by force of arms. Another 

ucCl declared this to he a Tain idea) mtintain- 

ing 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 197 

ing tlut the new King wii3 as firmly filed on hii 
throac as hU picture oppofitchun on the vnll : 
but no fooner had he pronoi^Dced thefe words, 
when the picture fuddenly fell to the ground with 
a tremendous noife." 

Here Alumbrado ftoppcd. While wc were ' 
ftanding around him in dumb altoniftimcnt, he 
eyed us with the firm look of a perfon who has 
related an incidem of which he has been an eye 
witnefs. Afloniihmcnt and horror fcized mc*- 
and I did not know what to' fay. The Duke re- 
covered firft from his furprife, uking him by what 
means he bad got that inteUigence. " I muft 
heg you," Alumbrado replied- in'a Idw accent,- 
•< to fupprels a (jueftion to which I can give no ' 
fatisfaflary anfwcr. HoA^ever," be added with 
emphafiti *'' you-may rely on the truth of my in' 
telligence.'"' 

He had not deceived us. On the Gxdi ivf- 
after this extraordinary incident, tetters from' 
*li* arrived confirming the lame event, and nme 
dayl after, it was reported in the foreign newfpa* 
pers. It really hai^ned on the fame evening,-, 
and the fameoight whenAlumbradohad inform'^ 
cd us of it. 

Being unexpeftedly honoured hy the new King , 
wicb a commifiioa that obliged me to leave tho 
kingdom of P- ■' I, loon after this extradtdinary 
incident had happened, I Was not at Icifure to in^ 
Tcttigate the fource of Alumbrado's prophecy ; 
nor could I leacn the Duke's opinion of it ; -my 
deluded friend beginning to srow very clofe ana 
vefcrved io my prefescc. It grieved mc tp bv 
obliged to leave him in Alumbrado's powers ' 
under fuch critical cireumftanpet, -I could, hov* 
ever, not delay, my departure. The Duke tore 
himfelf from my embraces with weeping cyea^' 
Md promjfed to write frequently to roe. 

I 3 A wee! 



19» THE VICTIM OF 

A week after my -arrival at the place of mj 
deflination, I received a letter from my friend^ 
vhich I am going to tranfcribe faithfully. 

" I have had to-day a moft important conrer- 
fation with Alumbrado. The principal fubjeft 

of it wa» the old concealed King of P i, for 

whofe lefloration I had interefted myfclf^ " Cats 
you ferioully believe-—" Alumbradofaid,. "-tHat 
the pcrfon with whom you have converted at the 
Hermitage, has really been the old King of 
P-T— 1 ? It feems you did not cvt-n fufpeft ihat 
the iiitrodu£lion of the old man was a juggling 
farce, which was a£ied with a view fimilar to thofe 
of the other delufions of the IriChman ? Al- 
though we fhould fuppofe that the King had not 
Keen killed in the field of battle, and that he him- 
felf had been the identical pcrfon who was con- 
fined at the caftle of St. Lukar, which, howe* 
ver, has not been proved, yet the whole affaif 
would (liil bear a very fufpicious afpcdt. Not to 
meati^B the great improbability of his cfcapc 
from a well-guarded caflle, where he waa kept 
indole confinement, and uf his having attained 
an age of 108 yean notwiibftandimg the hardlhipa 
he fuficred in the field of battle, and in his pit* 
ion.— 1 only beg you to confider who it was that 
introduced liim to you as King of F- 1 ? Was 
rot the IrilbniaB that perfon } At the fame time, 
give me leave to rccal to your recoUefiion, that 
Count Clairval has confefTcd that the pretended 
King afted in conceit with that in poftor, and 
then tell mc fincerely, what ground you have to 
believe fuch an improtebiliif on the teflimony of 
two cheats i Perhaps you will appeal to his great 
refcmblance to the late King f But have not 
three perfons before faim pleaded fimilar marks 
cs proofs of the identity of their perfon, and 
ncTertbelclj been unma&ed as impoftora } My 
good. 



MAGICAE DELUSION. igijt 

good Duke, on mature coalideration it fecmJ 
that the Irilhman relied very much on your youth 
and the abfencc of your tutiir, when he impof- 
ed upon you by that juggling trick." 

** Ah I what ideas do you recall to my memo- 
ry 1 (lexclaimed) that letter from the Queen and 
the anfwcr of the Irifhman.— " 

" Very right! (Alumbrado' interrupted me) 
thefc letters fufEciently prove, that you was con- 
fidered as a young man who promifed to be a fit 
inftrumcnt for executing their defign. And it is 
no longer a fecret what that defign was, and in' 
whofe head it has been hatched out. The proud 
Duchefs of B— '■ za had a longing for the crown 
of P— — 1, and it was Ihe who peifuaded the 
Duke to form a plan of. feizing it. Your aOif- 
tance, my dear Duke,, was wanted for attaining 
that aim, but the confptrators forefaw at the fame 
time, that you would rcfufe it, your antipathjr 
agatnfl your illullrious relation being no fecret to 
them. For that reafon they pietcodcd that the 
Duke of B— > — 3 had no other view but to replace 
the old King on the throne of his ancetlors. Ic- 
wa» ncceflary you Oiould be made to believe that 
he was ftill alive and in fafety ; for that purpofe 
the hermit was brought on the ftage, anda^tcd' 
his part with no common flcill." 

** Damned complot 1" I exclaimed, with n- 

fing indignation. " Coinpofe you^elf, my 

, Lord," Alumbrado refumed, "your atiger will 

now avail you very little. Take care not to ma- 

nifefl your indignation too loudly, lelt the nett^ 

iCing might forget that you are his relation, and- 

have afliltcd him to afcend the throne. You can 

do nothing ctfe at prefent, but to fubmit hum* 

bly to his authority ; and I 'advife you at tha- 

fame time not to neglect paying due regard to 

' the Queen, for Ihe rules the King and ttie cm- 

I 4 fire 



aoo THE VICTIM OF 

pirc Do not expea thai the prefent King wOl 
yield the fceptrc he has ufarped to any mm Uviog. 
It you don t believe me, you may inquire of Itiiv 
after the old King, and he will tell you, that he 
has refigned the goremmem to him, becaufe he 
lecls himfelf unequal Lo the arduous uOc of rul- 
ing a large kingdom, on account of bi& advanced) 
"g^i or perhaps that he ia dead." 

/' ^y «'"r Marquis, what do you think of 
this ? I fear Alumbrado is not miftaken, and I 
am m a (late of mind that would render it im- 
prndcnt for me to appear at court i but as foon as 
the temped that ruffles my mind Ihall be fubdued, 
I will pay a viiit lo the new King in order to conw 
to the bottom of the truth." 

" P. S. You will be fo kind to continue to 
direft your letter* to Lisbon, for neither I nor 
my father fliall leave the town this fummen" 

Before I could return an anfweT to this letter,. 
I received a fecond, the coatenti el whkh^ were 
as follow : 

" Will you believe, my friend, that I defired 
three times to have an aiidience, before my royal 
coufin condefcended to admit me to his prefcnce i 
This utter want of rcganl and gratitude re-kin- 
tlled my indignation in fuch a. manner,, that I en- 
tered the royal apartment in a way that was not 
very confonajit with the court etiquette. The 
King, however, received me very courteouHy, 
pretending to be extremely forry that the accumu~ 
latcd aS'airs of date had not allowed biro to. re- 
ceive my vilit foooer, declaring at the fame time 
that he was very gbd to fee me. ** J am come, 
(I replied^ in order to tell you that I am furprifed 
that the old King has not yet made his' appearance, 
■Did 

■c4v=.jn000glc 



MAGICAL DELUSIOK. tm 

and releafed you from the heavj burden of ftate 
bufinefs." 

■' Dan't you know that he is deail t" 

** The emotions that I felt arthefe «>or<(s are 
beyond all defcription ; and my allomlhinent, - 
the palenefs that orerfprcad my face, and my 
filencc* mud hire betrayed them to the King. 

** At what are you a(toni(hed thus i not at 
the death of an old man of a hundred and eight 
years ?" 

■ *• No," I' replied after a paufe, " but I^m ■ 
furprifcd that he died at fo fcafonable 9 pe- 
riod.- 

«« Will you explain yourfelf more diftiafl- - 

ly-?" 

** I think it Is a rcTy ftrangc accident- that the 
royal hermit (hould have entered the kingdom of 
heaven, and left your majelly the tcrrcflrial 
crown, juft when he wa»tD ihow himTclf to tho- 
people as their lawful king." 

" It vas an accident." 

** And a . very fortunue one for yoor Majef- - 
ty." 

" What do 'you -call fortunate ? My family " 

had a lawful claim to the crown of P 1 1, 

and I have an additional right to the poiTdQon of 
it beeaufe t hare torn it from the head of the 
ufurper at the ride of my life. I Would, faowe- 
ver, have refigncd it cheerfully to my grand uncle 
if his death had not dcltroyed that plan. Tou 
are miftaketi if y*^ think the lot of a King to be 
fo enviable. The burden of gorcinment lies 
heavy upon my QiouMeTS." 

** O i there are means of alleviatiBg that 
load." 

" Ot which I Aall make at little ufe at poOl* 

blci fwr it will b« the chief objcA of my cares, 

I 5 - and 



lot THE VICTIM O F 

and vill afford me the gteUeft pkafure to reader 
my peop'c happy." 

«* Who cpaU doubt it ? Tct I think one ought 
to make the death of the deceafed King publicly 
known." 

■< If we could but Hrll convince the people that 
he has been altve lately. The profound incognito 
behind which he concealed himfclf, throws an 
infurmountabe bar in our way. No one would 
believe us." 

•< Upon my honour, I almoft difbeljeve it my- 
fclf any longer." 

•' You are right ; one nee^s not to bfUevf- 
what one is convinced of, for you have feen him 
with your own eyes. If fate had fuftercd him to 
Ihow himCelf in public, every one would have ac- 
knowledged him to have been the peifon that he 
really was, the old lawful King of P-^t — — K 
Having, however, lived and died in obfcuricy,. 
the whole matter may remain a fecret, and that 
fo much the more becaufe the difcovery would' 
be intirely ufclefs. It is therefore my toyal, pUa. 
fure that no mrniion whatever be made of it. 
Farewell 1 (he added after a (hort paufe) you will 
always find me your af&£tionaic King." 

■• Thus ended my audience. Do not dclire 
me, my friend, to difclofe 19 you the idea* and 
fenfations which it produced within me. I {hall 
endeavour to obliterate even the recolle^ion of 
that fcene. 

<• Alumbrado is very much difpleafed with the 
manner in which I have fpoken to the King. 
• ' Do you imagine," fa id he, " that hb offended 
pride ever wili forgive you the torments of that 
felf-denial which the patience he has oppoffd to 
your galling language has coil him ? The facri- 
iice which he has made to his policy by tiiat 
painful forbearance, will certainly coft you dear. 
Hence- 



MAGIXIAL DELUSION. 20^ 

Henceforward, you mu!l renounce every hope of 
being pTomgted ; for he will be careful to keep' 
in fubmiflionf and at a proper diltance, a man of 
fpirit, as you mull have appeared to htm. This 
is perhaps the' leaft misfortun: that threatens 
you ; your ^rmth, your ill-timed franknefs, 
may produce conlcquences of a more ferioiit nt- 
ture. Alas ! why hare you not been ' on ^our 
guard ? Have I not advifed you to appear with 
humility in his prcfencc ?" ■ 

<* Alumbrado had certainly the nmd friendly 
Tiew in rcprirnanding me thus ; he did not know 
that every word of his wounded my heart like a ' 
two-edged dagger.' 

« I hav; been interrupted by the vifit of a' 
Prelate of very high rank. He came to inform 
my father and myfelf, that the Vice-Queen of 
P— t ■■ I had been imprifoned by the order of 
the King, becaufe (he has had the imprurfgnce to 
declare that the new King had ufiirped the throne 
in a fraudulent manner, and that it was the duty 
of every inhabitant of P-^-t ^^1 to acknowledge 
only tiie King of Sp— n as his lawful fovcreign, 
becaufe the voluntary oath of allegiance the 
P~t — fe had fwom • to the latter, could not b* 
made void by that which the Duke of B— •— a 
had obtained by artifice and forca. " I cannot 
conceive," the Prielate added, *' what reafonable 
objection can lie allcdged againfl this declaration ; 
but neverthelcfs, no one dares to aHirm it. For 
fear of (haring the fete of the Vicc-Qucen." 

" The Vice-Queen and the Prelate, appear 
to me to be in the right: Howerer, what can be 
done ? Farewell, my friend, and let it not be 
long before you favour me with an anfwcr- 

«' P. S. This very moment I received an an^ 

fwer to *ctter I had wrote to a friend near the 

place where the lurmit Itred. He iaforms mo 

thar' 



ao4 THE VICTIM OF 

thai the old man expired fosr nxHith* Goce, worn 
otit with age." 

I furpe£tcd slrcadjr from the (irft letter, bat 
Biorc ib from the fccond, that the Duke was i» 
dangei »f taking a cet»rc from which he could 
not rcturo too Coon. I imagiacd t had diicovcr- 
ed the defign which AI»nibrado had formed upon 
hiiDi and (hudderrd at the idea that he might 
carry his poinr. Yet my CuCpicion againft Alum- 
brado wai Kill a mere fuppofiti«n> which ^vr 
me no right to accvft him. After mature con- 
fideration I thought, however, it would be bcft 
to deliver the Duke, againll whom his plaa ap* 
pesred to be ohicSy dire^cd, from his chitches> 
and thusexpc^ediogun two ad*antageB by one 
ftroke : not only to cut the finews of Aluoibr^* 
do'i undertaking afunder» but alfo to guard the 
Duke Bgainll ti^« fnare which was laid Sat hita^ 

With that view I wrote to the latter :: 

*' Your letters have been vary unportint ti» 
s»c ( I muft, however* beg you to fetch my aa- 
ivier yovrfclf. Don't rcfufe my requeft, anii 
hallen to the arms of your friend, whole happi- 
nc& in a place on which aUure feems to have la> 
vifhcd all hci blelTings, would be complete if you. 
were prefent. Here we wiU difcufs the ptditical 
concerns which give you fo much uneafinefs, foe 
I have mote than oae reafon for not doing it by 
way of letter, and my aSaifs threaten todetaiik 
•me here fomc time lwig«r. The jouTney will 
not only improve your health, but it will aUo 
«afG your loiudj which it bctit down at prefcnt 
by a gloomy l^amenefs of klcaA, and very much 
wanu eoiufcmeot and diverfion. 1 am convinc- 
ed that your nclancholy will not pvluf ;.ou to. 
the 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



MAGICAL DELUSION. joj 

tbe paradTfe tbatbloflbms here. Aad if onlfyotw 
{loomincfs of mind flitU hare left you, yov 
will view things that now appear to you in w 
frig)itful Qiape, io a more pleafing light. At the 
fame time you may expert that the commiflion 
the King has charged me with, will enable me 
to explain to you many political ohje£lt whkh 
I dare not do in waiting. Coaic, my friend, yow 
certainly will not regret your hawi^ uHdeiUkeO" 
thU journey.. 

** &c, &c. &c. 

My IWer protfuced the delired eSeSki The 
Dulw returned me » very affe^ionate anfwer,. 
and ptoniiled to begin the joiHney in a fortnight..,. 
How joyfully and impatiently did my heart pant- 
for his arrival I but I was difappoiated. He did- 
not come, hut fent me a leuer, which ] am go- 
ing to communicate to the reader. . 

" Why ami J not y«t »ni»cd ?— Aft H«a?enj 
-that qqeftion, but not me, for I have ^one every- 
thing in my power to fulfil my promife. In 
fpite of Alumbr»do's remonflraiicefl, I wcnton' 
boant of the Ihip that was to convey, me to my. 
friend. A favourable breeze that fweltcd out 
-fails>. enlivened my hope« of embracing you. 
£oon. Evening let in, and the wind uid the flty 
continued to be pro|;iti««G. The (econj and the 
tiiiul night Qok upon im amid th« ianw favourai- 
ble au^icet. 

' I do qot know how it happewd, that oa 
the third ni^ht ths rccojleilion of my fainted 
Amelia 3.woke within say mijid with additional 
viracity. It was not, however, a$xaued with, 
paiuful, but with bittei'^weet fcnfations, which, 
frequently afiiNrd to feeling minds s more delt- 
Qous pleafurc tiaa ioys uomiKd. , I proceeded 
inleu 



ao6 THE VICTIM OF 

inrenlibly FTom fcnfations to the realms oF fancy; 
I looked at the ftar of love, and imagined I 
beheld Amelia's fainted fpirit enthroned in its 
ClTcr luftre. My foul foared abo»e the immcnfe 
fpace that fepirated us, and anticipated the blifs 
of the celcflial fpirits.^^— 1 why has Aie fo 
foen been rendered fenlible of the limits of her 
power, which obliged her to return to our fub- 
lunary globe } 

* 1 feic a faintnefs which invited me to rcff> 
and having bid adieu to the llariy firmameat 
and the ocean, I went to my cabin, where the 
folacing hand of deep foon cJofed myeyesr 

* 1 awoke an hour before the dawn of mom. 
Finding myfelf entirely rcfreOied, I left my 
couch and relumed on deck, in order to haii 
the ftars once more, before they (houtd be dtf^ 
pelled by the majcftic king of day. But what 

a fccne did my gazing eyes behold ! ^The 

ffrmament appeared no longer to be over us, but 
wc fcemcd to rWe upon it. I did not know 
whether I was dreaming or awake, rubbing 
my eyes repeatedly. In vain, the fcene remained 
unaltered : intenfe darknefs covered the flcy^ all 
its ftars and galaxies appeared to be on the 
water. 

* O nature ! thy grateful fon never will forget 
the enjoyment which this undefcribable fpc^acle 
hasafiorded him !' I gazed along time in ftlcni 
wonder at the illuminated furface of the ocean* 
before I could examine the individual beauties 
of that gr^nd fcene. Whitherfoever I direflcd 
my gazing looks, I beheld iiery (freaks. How- 
ever, all parts were not equally illuminated; 
fome fpots emitted quick flalhes of light, while 
others continued fome minutes to - fparkle. 
The feparated water gulhed before us in lumin- 
ous llrcaiBS, and the furrow which the veJTel 

dicvr 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 207 

drew formeil a white bright Srcak behind us, 
which was interfpcrfcd with (ley-blue fpots. The 
multifarioas and dazzling light was Ikipping on 
the curling wares ; the fpume which the little 
bubbles produced on the for^ce of thewater^ 
glittered like lilver ctdourcd fnow. I could have- 
plungd in the watery abyfs in order to {ink down, 
in that hcarcn. 

• The pifing fun p^it a flop to that inchant- 
ment. My fellow travellers begaa to ftir. i 
haltcned to tell them what a fcene they had 
mified. A reverend old man, who wag prefent. 
when I related what I had feen^ fmiled. <*'One 
can fee," iaid he, " that this is your firft voy- 
age -y this phenomenon- is nothing uncommon in> 
all feafons, and particularly in warm^ climes;. 
neveithelefs the Daiuralifbs ftill differ in their 
opinion of its cauTe, fomc beUcving that it pro* 
ceeds trom (mall lirniinous infects, and others* 
&om aik oily lubilancc that fcparates from rot- 
ten animal bodies. — Many pretend this pheno- 
menon ta be the forerunner of an impending, 
tempeft, but this is falfe." 

" The old man may nob have been millakerK. 
yet this time he was refuted by experience. The 
little clouds which were fwimming finely in the 
fty, united by degrees and ovcrdarkened the 
fun> A black lempeft began to gather in the 
north. The crew were jjill' going to prepare 
againft the ftotm, when fuijdenly a violent galo 
of wind arofe, and hurried the vclTcl .with in- 
credible rapidity over the ruffled furfacc of the 
fea. We lolt one of our anchors, which fell 
from the deck with a thundering noifc. Some 
loud peals of thunder gave the fignal for the 
breaking out of the (torm. The Tight of day 
difappeared, the billows of the fwelling fea 
were lolling one upon another, .with a roaring 
noifc 



so» THE VI'CTIMOF 

noifc ; the dreadful flaAi» of lightning fecm— 
ed to dye the farface of the ocean wirh blood, 
and each clap «f thunder threatened w Oliver the 
mail to atoms. The foaming of the waves, 
the rotiing of thunder, and the howling of the 
winds fccmed to anndnnce to that pait of the 
world the return of utd chaos, 

'The ftrong flaOies of lightning nwde in 
fuddenly obfcnre that' land was- near. How 
wekooie foever foch a difcoycry is in fair wea- 
ther yet thii was to us the moft dreadful in- 
cident that could have happened, on accoont 
of our imminent danger, of being wrecked^ 
Our cables ftemed net to be able to refift long 
the fury of the winds and wavet which aAailed ' 
thevcOel. 
* Alt ihcfc circumftances contributed to recall 
r mind the recollc£lk>n of a (imtlar inctdenC 
li had robbed me of my Ataclia. Tba 
wounds of my heart began to bleed afreft, and 
rfw melancholy ftnfation which . af&iled my 
mind, deprived me of the power that I, other- 
wife, fhould have oppofed to the terrots which 
iurrounded me. My heart beat violently againft 
my breaft, and nothing but my ambition could 
have prevented me ftom joining thefe who 
groaned and lamented laudly, wtingtng. their 
hands and tearing their hair. 

« I flood OB' deck a prey to fpeechleft agony, 
when fuddenly fomebody tapped me on the 
fltoulder. Conceive my alton^ment viita 
on turning r«und, I faw Alumfarado (landing be- 
hind me. I daggered baek m if a midnight fpe£kr« 
had taken hold of me with tey hands. — Terror 
and furprife deprived me of the power of ut- 
tcraitce, and fufpended every motion of my 
limbs. He had made the voyage without my 
Jiowledge, and found tne^ns to keep himfelf 
conceiUed 



tomv n 
which I 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 109 

concealed from mc ; you may therefore ima- 
gijie, how violently 1 was affd<Sed by ihe fudden 
appearance of that nun, whom I fancied to be 
at Lifon. 

'* Are you not forry jiow, that you have flight- 
ed my advice ?" Alumbrado faid, "it feems 
vou will not fee your friend in this world." 
ftome minutes palled before I was aWe to reply. 
" Let us now enjoy in filence the grandeil fpec- 
tack that nature can afford !" So faying, he 
looked with tranquillity at the foaming ocean, as 
if he had been Itanding on the iheltering (hore, 
far diftant from the danger that furrounded us 
from all Gdes. His eyes beheld with incon- 
ceivable ferenity the wild commotion of the 
"waves, which now raifed the vefl"d to the film- 
ing clouds, and now hurled it into the gaping 
abyfs of the boiiinz fea. The tirm tranquillity 
which Alumbrado^ countenance befpoke, in 
fpite of the furious combat of the elements, 
ilie impending deltrudlion of the (hip, and the 
doleful lanaeniations of the defpoading crew, 
appeared to mc to denote more than human 
courajpe. I gazed with fecrec awe at a being 
that leemcd 10 be delighted with a fpe^acle, 
which made every hair of my head rife like 
Uiftles. 

■ At length the flalhes of lighttui^ grew faint- 
cr, the roaring of the thunder lefs violent, and 
the fury of the winds fecmed to be exhaufled i 
but the fea coutinued to be agitated in fo dreald- 
ful 3 manner, that we apprehended the eablei 
would not be able to (land the motion of the 
iliip any longer. In vaia did we implore hu< 
man alTiilancc by the difcharge of CMir guas, the 
towering waves threateniug deltru^ion to the 
boats that attempted to come to our relief. 

c4v=.jnLTOOglC 



no THE VICTIM OF 

'» In vain will homan force endeavour to wage 
the unequal con tell againfl all powerful nature !" 
1 exclaimed when I beheld thai defpondiiig light. 
Alumbrado turned round. " I will tame the 
fury of ihefc foaming waves, if you will promife 
to return to Lifon t" 1 gazed at liim in fpeech- 
)cfs allonifhniciit. " 1 am in earnell," he rCi 
fumed, " will you return to Lif«on ?" "If I 
will ?" J replied, " If I will ? how can you alk 
me that quellion ? enable me to doit!" Aluin- 
brado left me without returning an anfwer. 

" A few minutes after he returned.— You 
will, prefently, behold a miracle," hefaid, "but 
I mull requeli you to tell nobody the author of 
it." 

•< I promifcd it, and the miracle cnfued. The 
rolling foaming fca grew calm and fmcoih. Wti 
wentonlhore, and found ourfelreg not farther 
tlian a day's journey from Lif'on. 

• You fee, my friend, that a higher power, 
againll which oppofition would hare been ufe- 
led, has put a ftop to my voyage. I have re- 
lated the hiHory of it without making any com- 
ments, and Icare it to your own judgment to 
form a juft- opinion of it> As for me, I am 
convinced' that I have at length found the maa 
whom my boding foul has long, been iu- Icarah 
of.' 

This letter adoniflied mc to the highell' degrep,' 
and, at the fame time, augmented myapprehcn- 
fions very much. In my anfwer I declared nei- 
tlier for nor againlt Alumbrado's fupematural- 
power, bccaufe 1 neither chofe to confirm the 
Duke in hia belief in it, nor to rilk loftn^ liis 
confidence ; for how could I have expe^^cd to rea- 
ctive farther intelligence of his connexion with 
Alumbrado, if I bad been- deprived of the lat- 
ter i and yet it was of the utmoft ipp{i^|;c^.ce to 



MAGICAL DELITSrON. iii 

me to learn every tranfaflioa of that delignrng 

Notwithnanding this precaution, near a month 
elapfed without my having received an anfwer 
to my letter^ I wrote a fecond time to him, but 
before hii anfwer could reach me, was ordered 
by tlie King to return inflantly, and to make an 
oral report of the iflue of my commiflion. 1 
was, therefore, obliged to depart without being 
able to wait the arrival of h'n let er. 

I anticipated the pleafurc of furprifing hini 
by my unexpedled arrival, and went to hie pa- 
hce as ftion a^ I arrived at Lif*Dn. He rather 
fcemed furpiifcd than pleafed at riie unexpefled 
light of me, afking with akind of anxiety, whe- 
ther I had received his lafl letter. When I an- 
swered in thc'negative he feemed to grow more 
cafy, but adding^ fome tune after, that it wouM 
be fent after me without delay,, his brow began 
again to be ovcr-clbuded. 1 was not much pleaf- 
ed with this behaviour^ and begged him to re- 
late 10 me the fcquel of Alunibrado's hiltory, 
but he dcCred me to await the arrival of his 
>etier, in which I fhould find a circumdantiat 
account of it. In vain did I conjure him by tho. 
ties of our fricndlhip to gratify my deHre, and 
tried every an of perfuafion in order to get the 
wifhed for information. He always evaded my 
queltions, and frequently betrayed ftrong mark4 
of uneaCnefs. Difpleafed with this referve and 
myftcriDut behaviour, I took leave with evident 
cooluefs. 

.The two following days elapfed without our 
feeing each other. 1 muft not forget to n^ention^ 
that 1 received, the fecond day after my arri- 
val, a letter from an unknown hand. When I 
opened the cover, I found a fecond fealed letter 
along with the following lines which were di- 
rcfted 



»3 THE VICTIM OF 

Kdedtome: •To-morrow you wiH receive a 
vifit of an old acquaintance, to whom you wlU 
have the kiiulnefs to deliver the inclo£:d letter. 
But if he (hould not have matte his appearance 
on the day ^tcr to-morrow, you may open the 
letter, which will give you farther iniormation.' 

I couM guefs neither the writer of the note, 
nor who that old acquuntancc could be. 

The day following I received the Duke's let- 
ter, which had been fent after me. I opened 
it with impatience, and read the following 
lines : 

* It appears more and more probable to me, 
my friend, that Alumbrado hat railed the tcm- 
pcll that threatened to prove fatal to me, in or- 
der to punilb me for my difobcdience to his ad- 
vice. For fliould he, who can fubdue the bil- 
lowing. waves, not alfo be able to agitate them ? 
You may (ay whatever vou choofe, 3 fupernatu* 
ral power mult have been concerned io that 
event, and who is capable to fix its eztention, 
its liraiu i My father and myfelf venerate Alum- 
brado as a worker of miracles ever Unce that 
event, although be iltivcs to hide himCeif behind 
the piouB doak of humility, 

* 01 why was Alumbrado not prefcnt when 
that temped raptd which deprived me of my 
Amelia ? He would have favea ber, and all the 
gpds of earth would envy me for my felicity. 
The Iriftiman has cheated me of every eaithly 
bleiEng, by not fulfilling hi| promife. 

* Concerning the Iiiihman, Alumbrado has 
given me a very entrasrdinary tint. The Mar- 
fjuie of F* (faid he) w undoubtedly right wbea 
he maintains, that God never intrutls an impof- 
tor with the power of working micaglei. He it 
however miltaken, if he thinks the fpe^king 
phamomj vbicb Hicrmvifor made appear at die 

cburcli? 



MAGICAL DELUSION. iij 

diurdi-yard, had been nothing dfe but a naCu- 
ntl deceprion ) no one will ever pcrfuade me 
that it is poffibl« to cSeSt any thing of that kind 
by natural means. Eff^^cd by mere natural 
means, (you will fay) and yet no tnkacle ? cer- 
tainly not ; for camiot Hieimanfor have deluded 
you by the affiftance o( the father «f lies? I will 
not explain my opiaion on that head more at 
large, yet I think the Iri^niaii is an hypocritical 
viliain, who catriea on a wicked trade. One 
ought to congratulate you, that your good prin- 
riples deterred htm from initiating y«u in his 
Qiocking myderics. It was not without reafoii 
that he accufed you of want of felf-Cubfiilence 
and refolution, for a dreadful degree of firmnefs 
of foul is rcquned for joining in a contra^ 
whereby mortal men bid defiance to the great 
eternal Ruler of the wotld. However your bet- 
ter genius watched over you, and although you 
ha<rc been entangled a long time in the bonds 
of wickcducfs, yet he has delivered you frwn 
thofe fiiares before they were tied indUIblubly. 
You ought to be thankful to the mcKy of the 
God of love, and be on your guard in future. 
If you fliould meet with men who perform fu- 
pcrnatural works, you may eafily fimi out whil 
fan ui people they arc ; U they deal in lies and 
iriipofition, they belong to the kingdom of dark- 
ncfs, but if truth and judke is facred to them, 
they are children of light. If you had exatuineil 
the Irilhman fiftcr this ttandard, ycm would have 
fied with terror from the apparition of the church- 
yard, and he would never have fucceeded tn en- 
tangling you in an undertaking which hat de- 
prived the King of Spa'n of his lawful crown. 
The doArine and the piinclples of the Irilhman 
ough' to have rendered him I'ulpc^led to you. 
He endeavoured to point out to you rea/on as the 
only 



^H THE VICTIM OF 

only infallible inAru£tor and gaide, at the ex- 
penoe of faiih, and at the fame time ftrove to 
confound that very reafon bydnfal and fallacious 
conclulions, ai the Marqws of F* hat demon- 
flrated in a mallerly manner. The Irifhman 
was very careful not to make yon rcfle£t on the 
limits of reafon and the power of men, bccaufe 
a genias lite you would eafily have concluded 
how much we are in want of divine illuminati- 
on and grace ; and it was his chief aim to re- 
move the light of religion, becaufe his works 
required being covered by dclufire mills. You 
will never have feen him frequent the church, 
nor perform religious rites, will never have heard 
him pronounce certain facred names. I know 
that fort of people, who are fo much the more 
dangerous, the more they are ftilled in conceal- 
ing their real fhapc behind deceiving malks. The 
fpreading Hbertinifm, and the furious rage of 
explaining every thing naturally, threatens in- 
deed to fufpend the belief in the exigence, nay 
even in the pofTibilicy of miracles and forcery, 
however they have not ceafed not wtthltan ding 
that. The opinions of men may^lter, but things 
will remain as they are. "The fame Omnipo- 
tence that in limes of old had led the Kraelites 
through the red Tea, manifefls itfelf ftill in our 
days through figns and nuracles, although they 
arc not acknowledged as fuch by the blind mul- 
titude. The fame reprobated fpirit that fpoke 
formerly through the oracle of Delphos, and by 
whofe alTiftance Simon the magician performed 
extraordinary feat!* is ftill a^ivc in our prefeui 
times< Is it, therefore, improbable that men 
who by their fupeVior fanftity rife above the ge- 
nerality, and conned themfelves more intimate- 
ly with the Godiicad, fliould' refemble the Su- 
,. preme 



MAGICAL DELUSION. n$ 

preme Bcinf; in power, and enjoy xn immediate 
influence of the Ruler of the world ? la it fo 
very incomprehenflblc that the fpirit of darknefs 
{hould favour thofe who refcmble him in wicked- 
neft, anij endow their inclination of perpetrating 
wicked deeds with a phyfical power of executing 
their diabolical dcfigns i People of either de- 
fcription will, indeed, always rarely be met with ; 
Cuperftition will miftakc as fuch many who do 
not belong to that chh, yet who can prove that 
they do not exitl ai all ? I am, certainly, no 
enemy to reafon, however I conceive it to be not 
lefs abfurd obftinately to rejciil whatever is mira- 
culous, than to believe it blindly. I cftccm reafon 
while ic does not overltcp the hmits to which it is 
confined, as ttie Marquis of F* has jullly ub- 
ferved, nor attcmjits to ex pel faith. There are 
fupernatural things, facred' truths, which the 
former never can comprehend, being refcrved 
only for the latter. Faith is hailed by noon -tide 
light, even where reafon finds nothing but mid- 
night durknefs. While the latter proceeds {low- 
ly, and with uncertain Heps, through a mazy 
labyrinth of concluGons and arguments, the 
former enjoys a clear immediate fight of truth, 
and experiences alt the (trcngth of Its evidence, 
'ihe period is however arrived, when men begin 
to abandon themfelves exclufivcly to the cold fpe- 
culations of reafon, and this fatal maxim mani* 
feftt itfclf but too evidently in the prafljcal life. 
Rarely any thing is undertaken before it is pon- 
dered and weighed moll anxtoufly with a pufil- 
lanimous minutenefs. And this is one of the 
chief caufes of the prefent fcarcity of great and 
itriking anions. The facred flame of entliuli- 
afm extinguiflies, and every energy of foul dies 
away along with it- While reafon wafles her 
wbolr 
ctv.-.ii,LTOOglC 



ai« THE VICTIM OF 

whole (trcngth a barren fpeculationa, the tk- 
mands and wants of our heart remain HnfMisfieil, 
« kind of infenfibilttx flcala spon u», the mind 
growipuGllanimoiu, and all nobis paStons. src 
fufTocated. No, no ! this is no iige in which 
great geniufes can thrive ! Reafonine hu produ- 
ced but Ttry few immortal deeds ; faith, howe- 
ver, although it fhould have been onljr the faith 
of man in his naiHtftl abilitiea, has frequently 
rendered impoifible polTible. — If fo, what mira- 
cleswill faith in the aflidance of an omnipotent 
being be able to perform i The firlt King of 
Portugal has giren us the moft glorious proof of 
the truth of this aflertion : he went, as you 
know from hiftory, with fowr thoufand mei» a- 
gainft the infidels, and was oppofed bj five kings 
with four hundred thoufand Moors. Terror and 
4ifmay feizcd his little army at this light ; howe- 
ver, the celebrated apparition through which God 
pvomifcd him the vi^ory over his enemies, re- 
vived the broken fpirit of his troops. And what 
«lfe but faith in this promifc could have nvade him 
fifk and gain a battle, in w,hich one man hid to 
encounter an hundred ?" 

• My dear Marquis, I hav« been interrupted 
again by the vi^i of a great prelate, and, with 
your permilBoii, fhall communicate to you the 
fubftuice «f what he har told me. The Jews 
(he faid) have, as you will know, offiirTed to 
the new Acgent, on his acceflion to the dirone, 
to pay a great fum of money to him,, if he would 
grant them liberty to live and to trade in the 
tountry as external Chriftians, without being 
pcrfccuted by the Inquifition — It would have 
been hi gill y advantageous to religion, if this li- 
berty hail been granted to the Jews; for al- 
though they (hculd have vifited the ChtlAian 
thurches at fitll only for form's fake, and ob- 
feryed 



MAGICAL DELUSION. st; 

feTTcd only the external rite* of worfhip, yet 
many would hare been edified, and convinced 
of the truth of Chriftianity fo irre(i{libly, that 
they would hare feriouHy embraced the ChHUian 
religion. The Inquilitors themrdves hare in' 
timated this to the King. However the ■■ ■ ; —f 
I do not know how- to call him, who careB little 
for the propagation of faith, has refufed to 
grant this petition of the Jews. The Inqui- 
fition has informed the Pope of it j and the holy 
father, who as yet has refufed to acknowledge 
lus royal luthority, will now have an additional 
reafon for not confirming the ufurped dignity of 
a free thinker, who injures the intcreft of the 
church whenever opportunity offers. I have 
however, great reafon to fofpeft that our new 
King foments thefe difTentions dengiicdly, fOr 
fomc horrid purpofe. Not contented with hav- 
ing alienated the nation from their lawful Sove- 
reign, he alfo endeavours to obtain an oppor- 
tunity of alienadng them from the chief of the 
church. O Marquisl O Duke! what gloomy 
profpedls for all thofe who are refoivcd to live 
and to die in the religion of their ancellors. 

"Stop," the Marquis exclaimed, "he fhall 
not dare to carry matters to that point ; by hea- 
ven, he fhall not." My father had not yet 
ceafed giving vent to his. indignation, when the 
other prelate, whom I mentioficd in my lafl let- 
ter, joined' us. The two prelates were rejoiced 
to fee each other, and concealed their fentimenti 
foiittle from each other, that they both avowed 
their opinions of the new King without the leaft 
leferve. ** I cannot conceive how you,'* faid he, 
who had joined us, turning to my father arid 
me, " who ate fprung from royal blood, can 
fubmit to the humiliation of obeying a ufurper, . 
who will do every thing in his power to humble 

Vou II. K your 



3i8 THE VICTIM OF 

your family as much ai pollible. Don't ysu 
peiceivc that be. confers the bigheft digniiiesoB 
other peoplCf while he, out oi a cowartlly po- 
licy, keeps his ncawll relations at a diftance, 
-and in pro&uod ljibn401on ? The K^ng of Sp — n 
i^nows your n^erits, and is capable of rewarding 
fhem pn^erly. Who .would not rather hold an 
important office .under the greaicft Monarch, 
than live in ina£ltvity and ohfcuriiy, undei the 
on'oft infignificam King in Europe? Thefe are 
the femimenis of many nobles who are itiU 
£unly attached to their odd lavrful Spvere^." 

* Dear Marquis, my heart is deeply affu^cd, 
and firange ideas aie croffing my head. What 
jDuft I do ? Alumbrado fay;, noihiDg, but 
■commit every thing to the paternal care of 
■ God. . 

• To 4>y I rccpiv^d your letter, in which y9« 
reproach pie for my loi^gfilcnce. I am, howjE> 
ver, not forry that ray ieiter, which 1 wanted » 

.fqnd eight days ago, has been kept back through 
negligence, for. nuw I {hall be able to coiicl^ude 
itivM'^ ^^ relation of a molt extntordinary in- 
cident. 

■ I ttied for f9me time to viCt every evening 
^ur favourite fpoe before the tovf ii, which always 
4ttr^£led rne very n^ch, partly by its natuial 
oh^i^i and partly t^y the undilLurbcd folitude 
one enjoys there. On the .left fide, a chain of 
hills, . that form a beautiful gioup ; on tbe 
rjght, a wood, indofing the cxtealive plain, 
and in the middle the piofped^ of the difUnt 
hlueniountains^— You know what ^encbant- 
iiig efeA Uut fpot produces, pariicularly at 
1 fun-fet ; and thither I took a walk every ejrening. 
The way to ihac charming place is decorateS'wiUi 
the tu^s of an old chapel, w^ch partly is nu- 
roundcd with a half decayed wall. Approacb- 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 219 

ing thofe ruins laft evening, I few Alumbrado 
ftcp forth with hafly paces. " Stop !" he ^- 
claimed, "Do you ,know that yoq will be a 
dead man if you proceed a Hep farther ?" A1^[n- 
br^do's unexpected appearance, his inteUigence, 
md the ferioufnefs of Ijis countenance convulf^d 
my nerves. ** A dead man i" I exclaimed. 
"Yes!" f?id he, " did I not foretell you that 
the King would vent his rcfentracnt againft you ? 
If you go fifty fteps farther, you will bleed un- 
der the hands of his banditti. Tpu ftare at me," 
he continued. " If you wilh to be convinced 
of it, ;hen follow me into the chapel, an,d let 
us change cloaths ; 1 fliall purfue this path, 
wrapt in your cloak, and the hired alTaflins will 
fall upon me, under the miftaken notion that 
I am the perfon whom they have been ordered 
by the King to alianiiiate. If you wiJI afccnd 
to the top of this turret, you may witncfs the 
yholc fcene." I fliuddered with horror, and ■ 
peremptorily refuted to fubmit to it." " Yoii 
need not to be under the leaft apprehenlion 'or 
my life," he replied. " All that I dellre of you 
U CO nuke no noife when you fee me fall, b.ut 
til go quietly home without mentioning to any 
one what, you will havefeen; We fliall meet ■ 
again at yqurhoufc." All my obje£lions avail- 
ed nothtngi we. exchanged our dr^fs, he faw 
me to the top of ; the turretf and left me. I 
purfued him with anxious looks and a beating 
heart. 

* Alumbrado had fcarcifly reached the IkiiCs 
of the wood, when I heard the repoft of a piftol, 
and faw hini drop down, upon which three ruffi- 
ans <{arted forth from the bulhesi gave him 
fome ftabs, and tarried him into the wood. 
I daggered down the narrow (lair-cafe by which 
r had afcended the turret, and went home, 
K a thriUed 



3»o THE VICTIM OF 

thrilled with emotiona that - furpaf^ all power of 
dcfcription. I fat up till after midnight, but no 
Alumbrado came ; however, at fix o'clock be 
entered my apartment. I cannot defcrlbe whu 
I felt on feeing htm. He was unhurt, but ne- 
verthelefs I daggered back at the fight of him. 
'* Alumbrado!" faid I, after a paufc of dumb 
adoniOime^t, "do I really fee you alive after 
the fcene my eyes have witndTed laft night ?" 
"Piftolsand daggers^" henpliedj "cannot hurt 
the man who ig under the immediate prote£Uon 
of God. Come," added he, " let us go to your 
father." 

' I related to my parent the incident of the 
preceding night. He. feemed to be petrified. 
The cruel tillainy of the King, and the fuper* 
naturd power of Alumbrado, appeared to have 
carried him beyond himfelf j the thanks which 
he wanted to oiler to the latter for the prefer- 
Taiion of my life, and curfes againft the King, 
hovered at the fame time on his lips *, but be 
could not fpeak. 

"Let us take a walk in the gardeD," Alum- 
brado faid. We wentj but I ihall not repeat 
the converfation that took place. Yet I do not 
think that Alumbrado has added fuel to the 

fire. "'Vhe Duke of B a," faid he, " i» 

King, and accountable to no other tribunal 
but that of Go^. No mortal dare lift lip his 
hand againfl him without the exprefa commaDd 
of God or his Vicegerent. I have received no 
fuch order,, and I think you neither. All that 
you can d^ i* to be on your guard againft the 
King, and to mention to no one' the viUainotu 
tranfaftion -of laft night. Will you promife 
this i Tour own fefety requires it," We pro- 
miff d it. 

• IcouU 
c4v=..inGooglc 



MAGICAL DEtUSmN. a« 

' I coulj not help manifctUng my aftonifh- 
ment at Alumbrado's Wonderful prerenratlon. 
« Do you [hen thinlCi" faid he, " that only thofe 
who >rc leagued with the fpirit of daikiicfs are 
.proof againft fire-arms and fwords, and that 
the children of light do not enjoy that pririlege ? 
J will give you a proof of it ; fend for a gun and 
ballii here is powder," So faying, he produced 
ttie powder horn which I had mlCed fome days. 
*' You have," added he, "cither loft it or it 
has been Qolen, for I'have found it in the hands 
of the banditti." "What arc you going to do 
with balls and a gun7" My father alked with 
marks of ailoniftimrnt. '* That you (hall fee 
inftamly," Alumbrado readied, "if you only 
will fend for both." I ordered Pietro to fetch 
my fowling piece and a couple of balls out of 
my apartment. He returned with them, and' 
Alumbrado whUpered in my car ro fend him out ' 
of the room. Having ditmilTed the fervant, 
Alumbrado begged me to charge the gun,' but 
prcvioufly to examine carefully the ptiivder and 
the balls. I did as he had defired me, and the 
gun being charged j Alambrado faid to the Mar- 
qpis : " Now tale the gun, my Lord, and fire ' 
it- at me;" My father was almoft petrified at 
this requeft, and' having gazed at him a good 
while, with looks of aftouiihment, exclaimed: 
No ! I never (hall do any thing of that kind !"»— 
«'1^en you- too are deilitute of faith ,'" Alum- 
brado faid,. looking up to heaven. " O God, 
how degenerated are even the faithful adorers of 
thy fen I" '* E have declined it out of no other 
rao[ivci"thc Marquis replied, " bat becaufe I will 
not tempt the omnipotence of God." " The 
motive of my requcfl is not temptation, but the 
glory of God," Alumbrado replied. " If I fail »^ 
then I am a daring provoker of the Almighty 
K 3 iind 



2W THE VICTIM OF 

and dcferve my hte } but if I remain unhttTt> 
you will have reafon to conclude that the power 
of God has Warded off the ball, and know in 
what light to Tiew mc." So faying, he unco- 
Tcied hie brealt, retreated three ftcps> and de- 
fired my fatter to Gre. 

< My father took up the piece, levelling it at 
him with a trembling and fearful hand. «'I beg ' 
you will not fpare me, and infill upon your aim- 
ing at my head or bean I" The Maicjui* took 
his aim, but trembled fo violently that he waa 
obliged to lay down the gun. Alumbiado de* , 
fired me to ftep nearer^ and putting my hand 
10 his bare brealt, fiid : " Feel whether tbi« 
heart beats fo timoroufly as that of your faiheT." 
'i'hcfe words provoked the pride of the Mixrquis, 
he ordered me to Hep afide, levelled his piece 
and difcharged it. A flouj of fmoak concealed 
Atumbtado's Gtuatioti for a moment front our 
eyes. It is impoflible.to depi<^ the fenfation* 
that rulhed upon my Heart, when 1 beheld him 
in his former fituation, and heard him esclaim : 
" You have aimed, well, my Lord, however, 
the ball has recoiled from my brealt, there it lies 
on the floor." My father funk on his knees and 
lifted his hands to heaven as if praying, and I 
gazed at Alumbrado with Stent aWe. 

"Duke!" laid the latter, "charge the gun 
once more." The Klarquis Itartcd up, eK- 
claiming 1 " for what purpofe i" " I want your 
fon to repeat the deed."—" No, there is n<? oc- 
cafion for iti" my father replied, *<the omni- 
potence of the £iernal has been glorified fnffi- 
cicntly." " Juft now," Alumbrado returned^ 
** you have been of too littls faith,^ and. now you 
are too credulous / Is it impolfible that you Ihould 
have miOed your aim ? That the ball acciden- 
tally ha» hit another object and recoiled i But 
although 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 2*3 

although ;i0» ftionld be eoHmcerf that yoirhare 
aimed well and hit me, is the Dakefo too i" 

' In SioTt, I was obliged to chatge the piece 
again, and Alumbrado expofcd his uncovered' 
bofora once more. 

* 1 could reiy on my gun, atid was furc nor 
to mtfs himi b«:aafc he was ftindtng only feten- 
paces difliant from me. I pointed at Alu'mbra^ 
dtJ's head, took my aim well, and fired j how- 
ever, he ftepped forth from the cloud of fmdak' 
like a being of a fuperior order;- the ball tay^ 
on the floor, and AJnmbrado bad not m^t^d- 
the leall hnit.- 

" He now took, a dagger ont of his pocket, 
and plunged it twice in his breaft, - up to the hilt>. 
extrafling it without a wound being feen. 

' O my friend, make haftc ta recant at the 
feet of this aCtoniOiing man the piejudicea 
which you have uttered agiinft him.. Blufh at 
your philofophy, wherea#you have combatetl 
fo frequently my profffifity to fttpernaturat 
events. I have always had ' a pre f6ntimcnt Chat 
thi« irrefifttblc propenfit/wpuld be gratified one 
timci yet P was a ftranger to the toad whirfi 
led to the obje^ of my moft ardent wiDica. 
AluRtbrado has pointed it out to me, and a 
new epocha of my life has commenced with that 
period. How Httle, and bow difgulting and: 
vatn does now att the wifdom and all the tin- 
Ccl fplendor of the world appear to me, 6ttcc 
i have been actjiiatnted with that higher good,, 
whidi ii concealed from^ and inacceOiblc ro' 
the greatcd part of human kind.' 

'P. S. On reading my letter- over, I. find s'^ 
few paffagci in it, which would determine me 
not to fend it on account of the great watch- 
fulnefs with which all letters arc examined by 
order of the Kjng^ if I had- not been-alTured 
K 4, that 



3H THE VICTIM OF 

that thofe which are dircftcd to you ire exempted 
rom examination. 

HaTing pcrufcd thii letter of tbe Dnkc of 
Ca*ina, I did not know whether 1 fliould haften 
firft to him, his father, or to Alumbrado. I 
ordered inftantlj my. carriage to be got ready ; 
but when I wae going to llcp out of the houfei^ 
my valet flopped me, pale and panting for 
breath. " My Lord," he ftammcrcdi "Com- 
ing^I have" — " Well, what is the matter i' 
*—-.•• It is almoft incredible," he refumed, " it 
is iTUffioured all over the town—" Here he Hop- 
ped again. His condernation -communicated 
itfelf to me, and i exclaimed in a trembling ac- 
cent, <* For heaven's fake ! what has happened?" 
" It is reported that the marquis-of Villa 
R*atand his fon» but don*t be terri&ed, my 
hordV — "Whatr" 1 replied, «'Arc you — '* 
I could not proceed, my lips being fealed with- 
teiror — "It i« rkmoured that ihe Duke of 
Ca'iiia and his father have been taken up on an 
accufation of having confpired againfl the life of 
the King." 

Thele words curdled the blood in my veins, 
and 1 wag ready to drop to the ground ■, bow- 
ever, defpair foon roufcd me from the ilu- 
por that had feized roe. I got in roy carri- 
age in order to enquire perfonally into the 
truth of that dreadful intelligence. Coming 
in the (treet I obfctved a uniyerfal commo- 
tion, and received^ but too foon, a confirma- 
tion of my valet's intelligence; being informed, 
at the fame time, that torty-fivc perfons more 
had been arrclled along with the Duke and his 
father. The multitude were aflembled before 
the royal palace, demanding with a furious cla- 
mour, that the traitors Oiould be deltvcredup 

10 

;■.. u.-.i, Google 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 



lis 



to them } the king however thanked them for 
their zeal, and ordered the conflaUc to difpeifc 
the populace. 

My alionifliment, my agony and conflcrna- 
tion, and an indrTporitioti which had been 
brought on by the violent agitation of my mind, 
prevented me from recolle£ling that this wis 
the very dtiy on which I was to eipeft the friend, 
of whofc intended vifit' I had been apprifcd by 
that letter from an unknown- perfoti. The fuc- 
ceeding day I h'^penerf to lie that letter ac- 
cidentally on my wricing-deOc, and the friend to 
whom I was to deliver it, not having made his 
appearance at the 6xcd hour, I made ufe' of the 
liberty I had received to open it.- 

Conceive my aftoniOiment whin I" faw the 
hand-writing of the Duke of- Carina. 'When 
you (hall read thefe Imes,' he wrote, * the grear 
deed will be performed, - and P ' ■! reduc- 
ed again under the 3 -fh dominion.' Forgive- 

me, for having this time deceived ■ your- cOnfi-^ 
dcncc, and believe me, that nothing but your 
comic£Uon with the new King could have pre 
vented me from communicating the matter to 
you before our defign i» carried into execution. 
For that reaibn only f' have had rccourfe to art, 
and wFote this letter which will inform you of 
the whole tran(a£tion, but is - to be opened only 
when it will be impoflible to put a Hop to our un- 
dertaking. 

' Not only my &tbcr and myfelf, but alfo 
thofe two prelates whom 1 have mentioned in my 
letters, and a great number of noblemen agreed 
aftCF fevcral convcrfations to force the ufurper 

to reftoK the crown of P 1 to the King 

ofS— >ni yet this deiign appeared to be fo 
dangerous, that neither the Marquis nor myfelf 
■rould engage iti it before wc had the confenc 
-- - K5 ^ 9i 



it6 THE VICTIM OF 

of Alumbrado: Wc prefled him, therefove, 
one evening to grant u> his pcrmillion and a(Gf- 
tance. He helitated a long while* Mid at length 
replied, " Well I I, will oppofe ^ro* no longer, 
but 1 declare folcmnly that I will not afibtd you 
the leaft aOiftince in yout defign againll the 
King before I (hall be convinced that it is the 
will of God, which we can learn by no other 
means but piayrr. The fpirit of God inl^irca 
thofe that arc praying to him with lincerity of 
heart, and the fcntiroeats which prevail in our 
foul in that fituation arc the voice of God. 
lAt us devote this night to prayer, addfcfa the 
- Omnifcient feparately, and to-motrow morning, 
communicate to each other what the Lord Oiall, 
reveal to us. If you fhaU continue firm in your 
lefolution after you have performed your devo- 
tion, then it is the will of the £ternal> and we 
will go to work." 

■ I had, for a long lime, entertained the wifl* 
of fpending » night in a church, imagining that 
this would afford me a pleafure of amoH: lin- 
gular nature. I refolved, therefore, to execute 
Alumbrado's propofal, and, at the fame tirae»- 
to gratify this darling wifh of my heart. With 
that view, I donccaled nlyfclf one evening in. 
the cathedral. The firft idea- which forced itfelE 
upon my mind, as foon as I was left alone in' 
that facred place, was that of the immediate 
prefcnce of the Eternal, and thi^ notion- filled 
me with folcmn awe. I went to the altar, 
thro^i'ing myfclf on my face upon the Qepi oi 
it, and adoring the omnipiefent God with ar- 
dent fervour. I foared beyond the limita of 
materiality, tranfpoTted by devotion, and myi 
foul and every fenfe was hurried' along by the tor* 
rent of holy emhuliafm. I prayed with filial 
fubnilTiou foi filial illuminstiQii andfaearealv aid. 
-- - - ; ;Thc 



MAGICAL DEEirSrON; 3:7, 

• The clock on the church fteeple tolled etc- 
vcti, when I recovcccd from my pious trance. 
The church u-as covered with awiul darkncri ^ 
the roiicary bmpi which were burning before the 
altar, and the images of the faints, produced 
on the oppofite parts of the fabric large maiTes 
of light and {hade, whife they fprcad only a 
faint duflc. over the other parts ol the Gothic 
building; The pre fence of the Eternal, the 
melancholy ftillncfe of night, th? cxtenRve cir. 
cumfercnce of the veneriolc edifice, made mc. 
fcnSble, with a kind of horror, of my folitary' 
Ctuation. The profound Hillnefs thaP relgaed' 
around was interrupted only now and then by a 
momentaneous cracking, by the clattering of 
the windowsj the whiftling of a guft of wind 
I u filing through the foftlyrefounding organ-pipes^. 
and by the chiming of a bell. Proceeding fur- 
ther, I was ftruck with the hollow found of my, 
foQcileps, which reminded me that the marble 
pavement covered the vault in which the bodies - 
of the deceafcd fathers of the order vTere :iwait- 
ing the morn of refurreftion.' I went tbroiigh • 
one of the allies, and (topped in awful contem. 
platLon^ now at an altar, now at the image uf% 
faintj and now at a tomb. The antique, artlefs 
appearance of many images and ftatues contri- 
buted miich to encreafe their awful effect. A,- 
chapel, where a whole length pi^ure of Chiil^ 
on the crofs was fufp^tided, attrafled my at ten- - 
tion particularly, becaufe the quickly repeated' 
llination of the lamp which was placed before it 
had made nic fancy that the pi£ttire waa Ilirringi 
The fingular diftrtbution of light, darknef^, and 
(hade prevailing through the whole church, 
the fudden flaring and dying away of the lamps^ 
produced the moU diSeront and furpnGng cSeftg 
on 

■ D51z=.JnGOOglC 



S28 THE VICTIM OF 

on the eye, and furnifhcd the imagination with 
mullWarious objefls of occupation. 
. " Ar length I entered a great hall, which led 
to the hindmoft porch, and from thence to a 
church-yard, the iron gate of which wai locked. 
The firll look I dire£lcd at it made me ftart back, 
feizcd with furprife. I looked once more at it, 
and beheld again feveral white figures that appear- 
ed and vanilhed with a ruftling noife. I cannot 
but confcfa that a chilly tremor fcizcd my limb* 
and fixed me to ihc ground. A few minute* 
after, a monk carrying a lanihorn appeared in the 
back part erf the burying place; and a fiiort re- 
fiction unfolded to me the wholt myftery. The 
noife which I had heard proceeded from his 
llept, and the figures were nothing elfc but white 
ftatucs, which appeared and difappeared as he 
moved the lanthorn in walking. Probably, he 
had been praying in the porch, and was now re- 
turning to his cell : I concealed myfelf in a pew, 
in order to aroid being feen by him. A weari- 
ncfs which proceeded from the chilly night ait 
and want of fleep, bade me, at length, put a 
flop to my wanderings. I fcated myfelf in a 
pew, where I abandoned myfelf to the wild freak* 
. of my imagination. 

*• The dawn of day was already peeping 

'ihrough the ftained windows, when I awoke 

from the fanciful dreamt of my wondering mind, 

und the purple rays of the morning fun lefleflcd 

with radiant glory from the image of the holy 

Virgin, fufpended agaiutt the wall oppofite the 

window. 1 was abforbed in the contcmpbtioa 

of this fublime objc£t for fomc time *, however 

the trance in which this charming fight had 

thrown me, foon gave room to religious fenfaii- 

ons of a more fublime nature j a pious confidence 

in the heavenly aid of Providence was kindling 

io , 

ctv.-.ii,Googlc 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 3*9 

in my bofom, and I was going to proftrate m^- 
felf before the blefled Virgin, when tbe church 
-was thiown open. I hallened to conceal myfclf 
in a corner, and flipped out o£ the church as 
foon as the fexton had entered it. In going 
homci I fancied I obfcrved Hiermanfor at a dii- 
tance, nay he feemed even to advance towards- 
me ; howerer, I fled from him. vntK horror. 

'< About an hour t£tzx my return^ I was join- 
ed by Alumbrado, who entered nvy apartment 
with awful folemnity. His countenance fpoke 
more plainly than his lip6. We went to the 
Marquis who feemed to have awaited our arrival 
with impatience, and bowed refpe£lfully to Alum^ 
brado. 

*' You have been watching lail night," the. 
latter faid to us, "and dedicated it to devoti- 
on. Is your lefolution ftill firm and unaltera- 
ble ?" 

" Yes I" we repliedat thcfamr time. 
" A long paufe enfued. At length Alumbrado- 
began : " I too have dedicated the night to devo- 
tion, and join in your league." Taking u* by the 
hand, "I havccoiwfcrfcd with God, and receiv- 
ed heavenly revebtions, which I will commiio 
nicate to you, if you will ptomife eternal fecro- 
cy." 

** We promifcd it.'^ 

" Yes, iriy friends," he rcfumed, " God ha»- 
chofenyouto be minifters of his avenging juf. 
tic*. Your million is honourable, but awful— 
awfuU ^'^^* >t the fame time, blifsftii. But L 
muft remind you, that it does not befit the inftru- 
ments of the Eternal to fcan his lioly deciee*,. 
nor to refift. Will you, tfaeieforcj promife to. 
obey implicitly ?" 
" We will." 

D51z=.JnGOOglC . 



2}« THE VICTIM OP 

*' To obey alfo wRcn the decree* of God (hall 
come Lit contradi^ion with your opinions and' 
£eeling3 ?" 

" The decr«s of the Eternal are impctic- 
trable, but ever wife and ever juft- We will 
©bey !" 

" Then yon fwcar to obey blindly ?"" 

•* We fworc, and now we learned from- 
Alumbrado our milEan, and the whole plan of 
the fccrct league. It would be fuperfluous to 
give you the particulars of it, becaufe it will be 
executed, and coiifequently known to you when 
you fliall read this letter. — Farewell, my friend,, 
for M^om 1 always fliall retain a tender affeflion,., 
although you fhould become niy moit inveterate 
enemy. FarewcH." 

This letter partly unfolded to me the myftery 
ef the whole event ; I could, however, heft 
form a clear idea of the particulars of the con— 
fpiracy and the whole defign when the culprits- 
were tried. I fhallconfine myfelftoabricf Iketch; 
of that infernal plot. 

0!i*area the Minifter of 8^—,- having not 
been able to put a flop to the fecret preparations 

the Duke of B- za had b:cn making for re- 

iloring the crown of Portal to his family, and- 
his three lall artful attempts to that effeft Iwving^ 
. mifcarried, he fent Alumbrado whom he had' 
already fuccefsfully employed gn dlffbrent occa- 
lions, to Li[*on, in order to watch the fecret 
motions of that nobleman and to countera£t 
them efFeftually. Alumbrade fixed his eyes 
6n a man who was generally rcfpe^ed as well 
on account of his rank, his birth, and extraor- 
dinary merits, as of his great wealth ; the 
Marquis of Villa Rc*l, whole fecret anti- 
pathy againft the Duke of B a, 01i*arez 

had pointed g^t to him. Witb the aOiUance 
"L.....„G.ooglc ^ 



MAGICAL DELUSION. aji 

of this mm, be deligntrd to laythff mine uriiich 
was to blow up the great work of the Duke of 
B-— — a. He found the Marquis in' a fituaiidn of 
mind ilut feemed to promife very Itttte fuccefs in 
tbe prarecution of hi« poEticat views. 

Tbc fuppo&d apparition of Count San*, and- 
tbe illnefs vriiich had focceeded itr bad changed' 
him from » ftatcfman tt> a pieiilticat hcrmir. 
However, ait intriguing genius lilie AJumbrado- 
was not difcoumged by thefe- unfavourable fyOip- 
toms ; be only changed his meafuret, and found- 
ed on religions fanaticiforandfuperAition'a pUn^ 
by which he expend to Intcreft the Marquis for 
ttis dcHgns. Yet he had, perhaps, imagined this- 
taflc much eaficr than it really was, or the pro- 
grefies tbe Marquis made were flower thanhe 
had expeiSed— HU ftiort, the revolution broke out 
before be had attained his purpoCe. This unex" 
pcfted Wow did not dcprefs Alumbrado's fpirit.- 
He had, indeed', not been able to difpute the ac 
quifttion of the crown of P— *— 1 with ihe Duke 
of B— a i he formed however,, the refolution. 
to deprive him of it. With this view he return- 
ed 10 S— n to confult with Oli'arez. The latter 
bad. really been induced by the ditFioiulation of 
the Duke of Cam'^a,. to believe him ferious in 
his devices againfl the family of B— •a, and this 
was fuSicient to prompt him to agree with Alum* 
brado that one ought tocndeavour to intdreft the 
Marquis and his fon £or the dilign againft the 
new Sovereign. 

That, and how this has been exiled, was 
proved afterwards by the event. 

Alumbrado had forafecn that the execution of 
fb dangerous a defigii would require many co- 
(^erating powers, and therefore had taken care to 
procure in time the req.uilite allilUnts. One of 
bif principal aflociab^ wm- ibe arcbbilbop of 

~..,:„Goo|!> 



«Sa THE VICTIM OF 

Bi'ga, Primate of P— ■ 1, an acquiGtion 
vhkb coft AliimbTado very little trouble, the 
Prelate meeting Iiim half-iroy. The archbifliop 
Iiad witnelTed the fuccefsful ilTue of the rcvotuti- 
on with the grcatell indignation, bccaufc he was . 
entirely devoted to the S — fli court and the Vicc' 
Queen to whom he owed his preferment. On th^ 
breaking out of tlie Revolution, he had already 
drawn the fword agaiiilt one of ihc confpiratora 
in order to arcn^e his bcnefadlrefs j- her confine- 
ment was rherefoie an additional motive to him- 
for jpining the confpirators, by whofe afDIlance 
he hoped to avenge her wrongs and to reftore her 
to liberty. Alumbrado gained through, him even 
the bifhop of "arda, Grand InquiGtor of the Em- 
pire. The tnfinuation that he would not enjoy 
long his important office under the new govern, 
ment, the King being inclined to alxililh the In- 
qnifition, wag the diief motive of his having; 
taken a part in the ccmfpiracy.. 

Both prelates were very fenfible how nccelTarj^ 
it was thai the Marquis and his &nfbduld join 
the confpiiatois if Alumbrado'» defign Ihould 
fuGcecd, and therefore fupported him in his en- 
deavours to enfnare tncfe noblemcnj although, 
they diflembled to liave not the leaft connection 
with tbat vUe deeeiver. Meanwhile the lattcs 
endeavoured (ccietly to encreafe the number of 
the confpirators through the interefl of thele two 
prelates^ and they fucceeded. in gaining over to 
their party Count Arm*mar, a coufin to the 
Primate, a great number of other Port«**cfe no- 
blemen and the Jews. It has already been men- 
tioned in the letters of the Duke, thatihenew 
King rejc£led their petition of being fufiered to 
live and to trade in the kingdom as external 
Chri&iahs, uuconirolled by the inquifition. The 
Primate made them a voluntary ofiei of that prir 



WAGICALDELUSION. 335 

vUegc ; Day, he even promifed fccrctly, in the 
name of the King of S— n, that they (hould 
have a public fynagogue, if they would co-ope- 
rate in the execution of the plot, whicli they con- 
Tented to without hefltation. 

The defign itfelf was, indeed, horrid enough- 
On the 6th of Auguft, 1641, the Jews were to 
Caufe a conflagration in the night* not only in the 
royal palace, but alfo in different parts of the 
town, in order to divert the atlemion of the peo- 
ple. Then the coofpirator^ Tvcre to penetrate 
into the palace under the pretext of extinguifhing 
the fire, and to flab the King; the Qjieen, how- 
ever, and the two young Princes, were to be 
feized by the Duke of Carina, in order to obtain 
through them the poffcflionof the caftle. The ■ 
Primate with hia train was, meanwhile, to parade 
through the itreets, in order to frighten the re- 
fraflory multitude with the inquifition, and when 
the whole plan (hould have been happily execu- 
ted, the Marquis of Villa R»al was to be invert- 
ed with the dignity of Vicegerent. 

This was the plan of an undertak'ng that could 
be attempted only by fool-hardy and deluded men. 
Alumbrado, who knew bed how hazardous and 
adventurous it was, was welt awari:, that, even 
if their delign (hould be executed in the molt 
fucccfsful manner, the capital only would be 
gained, and every thing lolt again if they were 
not fupported by an external power. He found 
it therefore necelfary. that a S—Qi fieet (hould be 
ready to furprife the port as foon as the fire (hould 
break out, and a fmall army of S— rds wait- 
ing on the frontiers, in order to penetrate in the 
country on the firft intelligence of the fucccfsful 
execution of the undertaking. Oliv'rez was to 
affgrd this alTillance, and confequently, intelli- 
gence mult be fent him and cfery thing precon- 
certed J 



«34 THE VICTIM Of 

cencd, which was extremely difRcult, the new 
Scwercign having iffaed the .ftriilcft orders not to 
fuf&T any fufpicious letter to pafe the frontier). 
Ba*za, of whom I hare already made mention 
in a farmer page, had, on account of hit cxten- 
five trade, receited an exclulivc privilege of car- 
rying on an unmoiefted correfpoiidcnce with 
S^n. Alirmbrado found means to insinuate 
himfelf with this important man in fueh a man- 
ner, that he undertook the dangerous talk of for- 
warding the letter which contained that intelli- 
gence. However— 

The In(hman was returned from hisjonrney. 
Someexpreflions which he accidentally overheard 
and fcvcral unufual movements hi* eagle eye ef- 
picd, excited hisfufpicion, in fpitc of the fccrc> 
cy of the confpirators and the great precautioa 
they obfcrved in carrying on their plot. He 
found it, ncverthclcfs, very difficult to come 
upon f he right tack. Although he had fuccecded 
in his attempt of getting admittance to Ba*^>'s 
houfe in the difguife of a foreign nterchant, and 
gained the confidence of that man by means of 
fome very great money tranfa^ions, yet he couht 
not trace out the lead thing concerning the ft- 
crct plot which- he fufpcfled to be carrying on^ 
Ba*za being always onhlsguardt notwithftartd- 
ing the repeated inveftires t«ie IriChman uttered 
againlt the new government in order to allure 
him to take the bait. But when Baez» receired. 
the aforcfaid letter In order to fend it to S— n, 
he betra)'ed fo much anxiety that it could not ef- 
cape the keen-lighted looks of the Irtftiman.. 
The latter employed every art ta difpofe the mer- 
chant to dirc^ that letter to the Marquis of- 
Aja'onn, a commander of a Sp — fti fortrefs on 
the frontier, and a£ted hii part with fo much 
dexterity, that Baeza adopted his advice without. 



MAGICAL DELUSlOir. 335 

entertaining the lead fu^icioti> thinking that the 
letter would certainty be d«IiveTed to the Mini- 
llcr when it once had reached the Sp-^Oi ter- 
ritory. 

The Iiilliman could not indeed^ divine the im- 
portant concents of the letter, and the unealinefs 
which the merchant betr^jred concernhig its fafe 
delivery, could alio have originated from the 
gre&t importance of the mercsnitle papers it might 
h»»c contained. It was, therefore, a mere act ■ 
of prudence that he fern inltantly a mclTenger to 
his friend Ajam"»ti, requefling him to exa- 
mine that letter carefully if it fliould come to hit 
hands. 

The Marquis receivin;^ the letter opened the 
firft cover, and ft'cing it dire£lcd to the Sp — fti 
Minitter of Sut«, and fealed with the great fcal 
of the Primate of P — 1, hia fnfpidon having 
been roufed by the previoos notice he had receiv- 
ed from the Irinimast he opened itwidiont hefi- 
tation, and thus difcovercd the imminent danger 
threatening the life of the Kingof f — h Being 
a near relation to the Queen and fmcerely attach- 
ed to the king, he feiit tiic letter wifhoot delay 
to his royal kinfman. The King was feized with 
aitontlhment and horror when he learned what i 
dreadful plot was carrying on againit himfdf and 
the kingdom. He convoked inflantly the Privy 
Council, and concerted with them the necefiary 
means which werti to be taken in order to xwvrd 
the impending blow, . 

The fifth of Augiiftt in the night, of which 
the plot was to be carried into execution, the 
King fenl orders to all the Inoops that were quar- 
tered in the neighbourhood of Lifon, a> march 
inftaatly to the capital under the pretext of a 
review. On the morning of the fame day, he 
delivered himfelf fealed inftruflious to his mod- 
faithful 



aje THE VICTIM OF 

faithful officers, ordering them not to be opened 
before noon, when they were to execute the 
contents with the greateft difpatch. Thefe pre- 
cautions being taken, the King ordered the great 
Council of State to aflembie at one o'clock.. The 
Bilbop of Br"ga and the Marquis of Villa Re"l 
were atTcfted as foon as they cntc^d the council 
chamber, and a captain of the life guard fei2ed 
the Duke of Ca'ina at the fame lime in the pub- 
lic (Irect. This .was the time when -all the officers 
openrd their fealed orders, which contained the 
names of tfaofc whom they were to arrcll, and 
of the prifon to which they were to condtifl 
them. Every one of the confpirators was con- 
itned in a difleren't prifon, ami fome were arreft- 
cd by more, than one officer. AH thofe that bad 
been ordered to execute the King's command, 
arrived at the fame time at the places of their 
(lellination, and performed their miffion almoft 
ki one moment. The number oi the prifonecs 
aroouitted to forty^feven. 

A committee of Gundccs was now appointed 
to try the confpirators. The letters through 
which the plot had been difcovcr^ d were not pro- 
duced at the beginning of the-ttial, in order not 
iQ betray the Martjuis of A]a*onti. Baeza be- 
ing threatened to be put to the rack confeflcd 
&Tli, ind the rel^ confiimed his confeffioit after 
having been put to the torture. The Marquis of 
Villa Re*l aad the Duke of Ca*ina, and the two 
prelates confelTed voluntarily. ■ 

Alumbrado endured the firft degree of the 
teiture without confcfling anything} howevcr> 
at the Iccond he began to be jnorc triftable. 

Imagiaing that my readers will be dcQrous to- 
Jeara Sie paoiculars of the life of this extraor- 
dinary man, I will give a Oiort Iketch. of whnt 1 
«ould learn. 

D,v..u,Googlc*^« 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 357 

He was born at •«*. If the virtues of parents 
verc as inhertublc as their'rank and fortune, he 
would not have been a difgrace^ 10 a family as no- 
ble as it was refpe^abte. Already in his jure- 
nile age he cxhi^ted marks of a penetrating un. 
derftanding, of an -extraordinary docility and 
acutenefs. but nature had thrown away her gifts 
upon a villain. The great rigour with which his 
father watched his condua, had no other effe£l 
but that of making him a hypocrite, for he would 
commit any crime if he could do it unobferved, 
although he was generally believed to be a pattern 
of every virtue. In his ninth year he killed a 
girl by a ftone thrown from a fling, and was ca- 
pable not only of fathering the crime upon one 
of his play fellows, but* at the fame time, of 
rendering his accufation more ptauGble by his fo- 
lemn proteftatioiis, and the. tears he flied over 
the corpfc. Frogrefs of time changed his con- 
dufl not in the leaft, he rather improved in 
wickcdnefs, and in the art of concealing hta 
crimes. 

Inheriting from his father an immenfc fortune, 
he determined to indemnify himfelf for his far- 
mer conftralnt, by the moft licentious manner Of 
life) and abandoned himfelf to all forts of de- 
bauchery, with a fury that ruined both his healtli 
and his fortune. The grief at this conduct 
. broke the heart of his mother, at which he was 
not very forryi expecting to improve his fonune 
by a new iimeritance. He was, however, dif- - 
appointed, for his mother, thinking it flnful to 
fupport him in his debaucheries, left her wealth 
to a clotfler. Glowing with thirit for revenge, 
hefet itpn fire aiid ran away. 

The vengeance of Heaven purfued him, and 

want foon completed the meafure of his wretch- 

ednefs. Whitherrocver he went he was haunted 

br 



ajS THE VICTIM OF 

by the untclenting -puniOinients of the Omni* 
prefcnt Judge, on hi^, and the greatefl: diftrefs. 
At length he obtained leave of a captain, who 
sras juil going lo fea, to embarle on board of 
his veflel. Thushe did, indeed, get out of the 
teach q{ public juttice, hut not of the vengeance 
of HoSTcn. The Ihip wascaptared by Algcrine 
pirates, and he was dragged to captivity. 

He abfurcd his rcligiwi and turned Mahome. 
tan, in order to cafe the yoke of jlavery that lay 
heavy on Us flioulders. His great capacities 
enabled him foon to improve his fituatioii, and 
duiing fome fucccftfnl cruizes againft his own 
countrymen, he acquired a confiderable fortune^ 
which lie encreafcd rapidly through his fpecula- 
tione on land and lea,' which he carried on for 
more than twenty years with adonilhiog fucccfs- 
Mcanwhile he took every opportunity of injuring 
the Chrillians, and Portugal loft through his in- 
fernal intrigues her n)oft valitabr? poflefljons in 
Africa. 

Tet hie good fortune became at lad the fource 
of iKW misfortunes, pufling him up with pride 
in fuch a manner, that he afpired to a dignity in 
the ftatc which a renegado rarely or ntver ob- 
tains. The Hcj of Algiers died, and he ipared 
neither expcnces nor anificcs ro be conftitulcd 
his fucceiTor ; his ambitious views were however 
fruflratcd. His pride was wounded, and he en- 
deavoured to gain his aim by additional bribes^ 
but in vain ! liuragcd with new difappointment, 
he confpired againft the new Dey ; a Dervife, 
whomj he wanted to implicate in his plot, betray- 
ed him, . and he had fcaiccly time, to fave hjmfwf 
by a fudden flight, leaving bll his ill-gotten wcahb 
behipd. 

On his return to Europe he tffgulfed hiinfrlf 

IB the garb of a piigvim, and affected to Ire a 

pere- 



MAGICAL PJELUSION. ^35 

pCTcgrtDatHig penitentiary. "Wharever he pafled 
fjjrough be prcfendcd^o have vifitcd the hoty k- 
;pulchre, wh?rc the mfkleb bad dcuincit him a 
long .^hiJc in captivity, from which he had been 
{telivcTqd, at length, ifi a njiraculous manner. He 
diftribtited Onall pieces of wood, (lone, and 
earth, as valuable relics, for which the poor iw 
perllitious multitude paid him great funis of 
money. 

'ITius be r«aiped from place to place, and met 
cyery where vf^th crcdutouB people, with bofpi- 
taiity and alms. Ai Afan'uez he got acquainted 
with the Bj{hpp of P— *, who, at that time, 
exerclfed (he office of a papal legate at the court 
of Spa*n. His pharifaical hypocrify enabled him 
to ingratiate himfetf with that worthy prelate^ 
who was fo much deceived by him, that he re- 
ceived him into his fertrice. Alumbrado djf- 
patched the private fecretary of his deluded maf- 
tcr by a dofe of poifon, and fucceeded him in 
hjs pjape- The unTufpefling prelate was fo much 
pleafed with Al.umbrado's abilities and ferviccs, 
that he recommended him to Oliva'ez when he 
returned to Rome. 

The charaderof the Prime Minlfterof Spa^n 
differed matetiaSiy from that vi the .Bifliop i 
Aliimbrado, however, knew how to accommo- 
date himfclf to every one. He foon prejudiced 
his new patron fo much in his favour, that he 
entruHed him .with the execution of a political 
charge of the greateft importance, and Alum- 
bi'ado acquitted himfelf fo well of his commifEon, 
tliit the Miniftcr promiffd to reward his fi;rvice» 
on the firft opportunity. .Alumbrado improved 
.?very opportunity of fecuring tbe favour of his 
ii)a{ler, and endeavoured anxiouHy to explore his 
ruling padun;^. 

' The 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



«4» THE VICTIM OK 

The keni-lighted difTcmbler foon found obc 
that the Minifter was a great admirer of the oc- 
cult fciences, and infiantly hinted that he had 
acquired a great knowledge of thtife fcicnces on 
his travels- Fiom that moment the Minifter was 
rather in Alutnbrado's fervice than the latter in 
hit. 

Thai they had lived together in mutual good 
underflanding five years, when the commotions 
in PoTt'^a! t^gan to alarm the Court of Mad**d. 
Alombrado waa fent to Liftwn, in order to coun- 
teract the machinations of the Duke of Bra- 
g"»za, but having not been able to effe£l his 
purpofe, attempted to carry his point by form- 
ing a confpiracy, which, if it had fuccceded, 
Vftiuld have proved fatal to the life of the new 
King, and plunged the empire into the greateft 
mifery. 

Unfortunate young man t who haft been im- 
plicated in the moll enormous artifices of a 
monfter in that infernal plot ; have not all the 
torments of Hell raged in thy boTom, when (be 
veil which that arch deceiver had thrown over 
that horrid undertaking was removed, when thy 
fcducer was unmafked before his judges, apd 
thou fawefl in whole hands thou hall been, and 
how the miracles by which thou hadft been ea- 
fnared, had been wrought l A fragment which I 
have copied from the records of the trial, will 
enable the fvader to form an idea of th« (late of 
my unhappy friend. 

Duie. It is impoflible, 1 fay. 

Alumhrada. And yet it is exaflly as I have 
told you. It was you who prompted me by your 
relation of your adventures with the IriOiman, to 
gain you for my purpofc by delufiv* miraclet. 
Thcfe were the only means left me by the Mar- 
quis of F""*'"*, for I could not cxpcft to en- 



...-.ii,Googli 



'fhaie 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 241 

Inare you by apparitions of ghifis, after tlie fcnfi- 
ble arguments which he had oppofcd to your 
belief in their cxiftcnce. Your friend's philo- 
fophical caution not to Iruft a man whom you 
fiioaid have caught once in the afl of commit- 
ting a fraud, obliged mc to be on my guard, 
and I endeavouTcd to perfuade you that I vas % 
faimt^ I pronounced the Irishman a forcerer in 
order to prejudice you againft him. and to ex- 
clude him from ail further connedlion with you. 
Thus I gained, more than I ever ihould have 
done, if I had pronounced him an impoftor, be- 
caufe 1 had it very much at my heart to infpire 
you with a blind ktlitf in fupernatural ev^nti of 
every kind, and a hl'md tonfidence in my miracles. 
It g^avc me great picafure to have found out a 
mean through which I could influence jou and the 
Marquis at once, and guide both of you to one 

m^rk. I feared, however, the Marquis of F 

would difcover my artifices, and for that reafon 
recommended him to the King by a third perfon, 
for the tranfaiflion of afiairs which removed bin 
far enough from us. 

Duie. infernal villainy ! execrable wretch!— 
But no, your deeds contradift your confeffion. 
No, Alumbrado, human an cannot produce mi- 
racles liitc yours. Did not nature herfcif obey 
ybu i 

Aiumiradf. Tour imagination, only obeyed me. 
The idea of the miraculous had been inftilled 
in your mind already, and I had nothing clfe to 
do but tp ftrcngtheh it, in order to g?t poflH"- 
lion of the confidence which Hiermanfor had en- 
. jojed. I thought ir, however, prudent to ufe 
a di^e tent method. He founded his fupernatu- 
ral pov^er oil the occult fcicnces, and I on re- 
ligious myQeries. I did not find it more diffi- 
cult to hadyoufrom the ddtiftoni of fpeculalive phi- 

VOL. II. L hfi^hy. 



34* THE VICTIM OF 

hfcphyt tt the/i of implicit fattb, than to give yofl) 
proof* of mr iDiracutous power. A little dexte- 
x'lVf, a little fucccfs on my part, and a judicious 
accommodation to circumltancct, delivered yoa 
and the Marquis into mv power. I gained my 
purpofe, and this was tne onlj miracle in the 
whole affair. 

Duit. However, the cffcAs which you pro- 
duced, are ftill very myfterious to me. — 

Alumbrado. ArA yet every thing was done .in 
a very natural jnanncr. 

Dul*. How.couldyou know;thc.>crident that 
happened at the Inn at *H*, jn.ihe very momeiit 
when it took place. 

Atumbrado. .Becaufe I had preconcetted it with 
fome of my emjflaries at *li*. You new will 
CMvpiefaend how I . could , know the day and the 
hour, aod^how tbat.incideot.ftruld agiee.fo «x- 
q£t)y with my predif^ion. 

ihtkt. .What end-did you mean to giin by tfatt 
deception? 

jf/vm^<uffl.'frbe throwing dewn of the [uAuk 
\ij an inviGUe handf was to give you a hinc 
that a .higher power had decieed the dethrone- 
.ment of the Kii^. 

fiuii. ;H<>wcvcr, the ameaCng of the tem* 
peftoqua feacould,^ no delufion, nor an scc^ 
ilcnt. Through .what extraordinary means did 
you effi:£l it^ 

Alumbrado. Mere .^ecaution enabled me M 
tScEt it. .Experience had taught me that oik 
poffefics the extraordinuy tjualicy of reftoring 
the equilibrium of the water, U violently u;itateda 
and of fioioothing the fwelling waves. For that 
xeafoD 1 have been ufed never to make a voyage 
without carrying f(»ne calks of oil with me i and 
I had taken .uie fame precaution when I went oa 
boud.of the vefiel in wlucfa yoa bad taken your 
paflage. 



MAGICAL DELUSION. m 

paflage. fia*ii|g left }ou, after I had announced 
to jrou the pretended miraclei I ordered my peo- 
ple to beat off the hoops of the calks and to tkrow 
them OTcrboanl. The oil inftantly fpread over 
the fuT^e of the water and calmed the agitated 
warei.* 

Dule^ (After a patrfcj It was your intention 
to perfuade me to return to Li^oni and yoti 
have gained your aim by that expedient ; out 
what would you have done if no tcinpcft had 
a&bided vott an opportunity of deceiving me by 
a pretended miracle ? 

jflumirade, I fliould hare watched another 
opportunity, and deviled other anifices } for 
it was with that view that I accompanied yoa 
«n your voyage without your Icnowlcdgc. 

Duie. By what meant did you prcferve youc 
life, under the hand* of the royal haoditti i 

A!umbrade. The wlude fccnc you beheld from 
the lop of the turret was preconcerted by me. 
The fellows who attacked me, neither had beeti 
fent by the King, nor were they banditti, but 
had been previoufly inftruf^d by mc how to 
aCt i their piftoU were charged only with pow- 
der* and their poniardt did not wound mc. Thi< 
will explain to you the whole miracle. 

Duke. Not fent by the King, did yau fay. 
He then had no de^n againit my life ? 

Alumbrado. No, ^thc King never had the leafl: 
ideft of fuch a deed«' 

* Pli^ long tgo kiuw thM eunotdinuy qsalitj of tbs 
oil, ind in OBT tiaet it lu) been coDGnned trf the eipcrimenM 
«if Ihc immnml Pniiklili Mr. OJbrHkowfty, the cele- 
brated Ruffian acudemieiao, experuocei) the iJune on fail 
shTQcal TOfiee, and cut' BLodem lb*iiiea in geao:^ *re om 
auagfst cu uiat t&St of the oil, ud frc^jacstlf make «Is 
of it m duguow Aff^ T. 

La o,,,.u,GooglP»*' 



244 The VJCTIM OF 

Duie. Villiinous I VilUinous ! to deceive 
metlrasl-^AtKi with what view did you derife 
that horrid fraud ? 

Alun^rado. I wanted to inflame your father's 
mind with reicntment >gainft the King, Nay, 
I will tell you more. , It wag mj work that the 
King treated you with fo much coldnefs, and 
negkftfld to raiCe your family t for I had r^rc- 
fentcd you and your father to him, by one of mf 
agents, as perfons who beheld his new dtgnity 
with cnviOUs eyes. Through tbefe mutual ex- 
afperations, I gained the advant^e of increafing 
your pcrfonal antipathy agsinlt the King, aud 
of turning it, at length, into hatred that bad all 
the appearance of ju^ refentment. 

Huki. Ah \ 1 now begin to penetrate the 
whole ati^ocity of your artful wilci. Then it 
was ydu who has incited the King againft mc 
and my fjHnily, and formed the plot sgaitift his 
life? 

Jliumhrada. What would it avail me to deny 
the charge ? 

Duke. And yet it fesmed as if you had not 
been concerned in the confpiraey. The defigti 
againft the King had already been determined, 
and ftiU yOtt withheld ydUr confent and afGf- 
•tancc. 

yJlumir/idt. And not without reafon. I 
would Hot expofe myfeif. The grand Inquifitor 
and the Primate took care to gain you to our 
purpofe without your fufpe&ing it, while I was 
direding the plot behind the cutlain ; I fhould 
have deAroyed my own work if I had flcpped 
forth too foon. My feeming backWardnofe 
fpurred you on, atid fcrecned inc from fufpicion. 
However, after I had performed the laft 6£titiou« 
miracle, I thought myfeif fufBcicntly fecured 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 145 

againft all furpjcion, and caleuUteiJ that it would 
be foafoniblc to command you in the name of 
Godi to take an active part in the confpiiacy. 
Duke. After the laft fiititioiia miracle ? Do 
you mean that incident by which you fliowed 
jroorfetf proof againft hall and dagger ? 

Alumbrado. I do. The miracle will appear 
very natur.-)! to you when I tell you that I had 
filled the powder-horn, which I had conveyed 
fecretly from your apartment, with a powder 
of my own invention, which could not carry the 
ball farther than five fteps. Having placed my- 
felf feven fteps diflani from the' gun, I was 
far enough out of harm's way, I reqneftcd to 
be fired at twice, in order to empty the powder- 
horn of its contents, a precaution that prevented' 
you from difcovering, afterwards^ the real na- 
ture of the powder. The dagger with which I- 
ftabbed myfelf, had alfo been prcviouily made 
for that purpofe, and could do me no harm. 
The blade of it, which was not much pointed, 
fnapped back into the hollow handle on the fmall- 
cft retiflance, which made you believe that it 
had penetrated my breaft. A- fpring which' 
forced it again into its former fituation, render- 
ed it entirely impoQible for you to difcover the 
fraud. 

Dttie. "What views had you in making tnjc 
believe that you was Invulnerable ? 

Alumhrado. Was it not to be expe£ted that 
you would repofe the utmoll reliance on the 
afliltance of a roan who fhould appear to you 
proof againlt balls and daggers } However, I 
have, as yet, explained to you only the particu- 
lar views I had in performing ficlitious miracles, 
and now will tell you that every one of them 
tended to efFc£t a general end, which was no- 
L J thing 

ctv.-.ii,Googlc 



346 THE VICTIM OP 

thing lefs than to perfuaile yoa and the Marquu- 
to bdtevc that God was working and fpcakiog 
through me. Our plot was to hazardous* the 
circumflancea fo unfavourable, and fucccfa fo 
improbable, that we had rcafon to apprehend 
you wouid flirink back from your refolutiont 
when you Ihould have pondered more maturely 
the danger which it waB attended with. For 
this rea&n I thought it moft prudent to appear 
to you to be an orean of the godhead>, bocaufe 
it was to be expected that yov woald fear ruy 
danger whatever, if yos Qiould be perfuadcd. 
thai our dcGgn was the work o£ Cod, and fup- 
ported by his omnipotent power} for with God|. 
nothing is impofiible. In order to corroborate 
you in that belief^ I advifed you to have Tccouife 
to prnyer.' 

Duie. Daring wretch t how' could you ntt 
that rilk ? 

Alumbra^. Why npt? you had already taketk 
your refolution before you implored God ta 
iignify his will to you. The execution of our 
plan had been, fome time fmce, the principal 
idea that prevailed in your mind, and forced 
itfelf upon you on every occaGon, and, of 
courfe, in your prayers too ; it was, therefore, 
very natural that in the latter cafe^ youfhould 
miftake for a decree of God what, in reality; 
was nothing clfe but the voice of your provoked 
pafEons. I entertained not the leaft apprehcn- 
fion [hat devotion would produce more pioua 
fentiments in your mind, becaufe the fophiftry 
of your pafEons, and the two prelates had already 
perfuadcd you that our defign wasjuft; I ra- 
ther expedled that the fervour of your prayer^ 
particularly at night, would encrcafe the fermen- 
tation of your blood, and animate you with ad- 
^tiooal courage to execute our plan. 



MAGICAL DELUSION. 247 

Suie. Infernal fp'irit t but no I thou art worfc 
thah Satan 1 for ' he refpcAs the temples 2nd aU 
tars» but thou haft laid thy fnarcs even in thofe 
tacred places. Prayeti and faith, thefe facred 
treafures of man, become in th^ hand tools of 
fedu£2ion ; and thou doft not tremble at the Idez 
of being accountable to the all-feeing Judge for 
thy Tillainous deads ? — What wouMlt thou have 
done> daring wretch !'if a ray of divini; illumi- 
nation had difpcUed my errors ? 

Mumbrad: I was not afraid of that.' Yoa ' 
could eipeft no fuch illumination from -aboTe, 
bccaufe your ovn reafon would haTt pointed out 
to you the illegality of your delign, if you had - 
confulted your own good fenfe rather than your 
paflioQS. God does not work miracles white we 
can be inftrufled by natural means. - 

Dulu. fiiit fuppofe he had — for how canft 
thou piefciibc'limits-to the wifdom of God, fup^ 
ppfche had, nevenhclcfs, -condefcended to open > 
nine eyes throughhis holy fpirit ? 

Alumbra^i ' (carelcftly.) I then fliljuld hare ' 
had Tcceu/fe to a natural expedieiit->-which I in- 
tended to adopt iit cafe of emergency. Tou 
will recollcfl ' that you milTed a £eet of your 
treatife on- the Manicbean fffitm ; it was I who- 
-paTioiaed it. Ifypu had Uirunk back from your 
engagement,' I would have threatened you with 
all the terrors of the Inquifitioa \ ■ the flieet was 
^vrltten by you and the grand Inq lifitormy friend ; 
confeqUjCntly now lio other choice was left - 
you,! than dther to make good your engage- 
ment orto-cxperience all the horrors of that tri- 
bunal. 

Huiif (ftiudderlng inth horror.) Lead mc 
back to my dungeon, left the afpe£t of this mon- 
ger Ihould pcnfoo me entirely. 

L 4 , . .The 

^ ctv.-.ii,LTOOg[c 



34^ THE VICTIM OF 

The day after the trial, ihefon of the gaoler 
brought me a letter, which, to my utter afto- 
nilltiiient, was from tlie Duke, and contained 
the following lines' :*■*•»*" 



Grief, horror, pitjr, hope, and defpair afTtiled 
my heartalcernately, %fttr I had read ihie letter. 
, 1 moiflL'ficd it with burning tears. When this 
violent agitation of my mmd began to abate Co 
much that I could reflect again^I conGdered 
what eould be done for the prereriraiion of this 
haplcfs man, arid rcgardlcfs of my indifpofition, ' 
hallened (o the atchbiihop of Lif*on» who al- 
ways had been very partial to the Duke and was 
much lefpefled by iJie Q^ecn. I entreated this 
worthy prelate to intercede with the latter for 
my haplefs friend. " Alas !"he replied, " 1 have 
attempted it already without fucccfs." *'< How, 
itty Lord }" her reply was, " how can you in- 
tercede for a traitor who has meditated our de- 
ftruAion and the ruin of our kingdotn. All 
tliat you can expe^ is that 1 fi<ail forget what 
jou have alked." 

This account of the archbifliop rent my heart ; 
lioWcver, I entertained ftill fome hope that the 
liing, whofe generous di^fitioii I knew, 
would not prove callous againft my tears and 
prayers. I went without delay to the palace, 
and vias admitted, I fupplicated hina on my 
knees, to grant his royal mercy to the unfortu- 
.iiatc deluded young man, and exerted every 
power of eloquence to extile his pity. ** Rife, 
Marquis,^' the King replied, " there Is no oc- 
calioH Ibr youi interctifioni I have determined 

nfiicd to tht fJfl volume 

.......Goot?"' 



MAGICAL DELUSION. ,349 

•already to pardon the Duke and the reft of the 
confpirators j yet their fate does not depend on 
myfelf alone, but alfo from the decifion of the 
Council of State;" With that refolution 1 was 
difmlffed. 

The following day, the gaoler brought me a- 
fecond letter from the Duke, which I fhill traii. 
Ccribe literally: 

« Mir jiEaitEST Friejjdj. 

* I am allowed to converie with you oncf 
mote, 'riie 200 dobras have gained the gaoler, 
and the promife of a tike fum has prompted him 
to engage to deliver this leUer to you. I muft 
inform you of an important incident, that h^- 
pcned Uft night, within the walls of my dun- 
geon. The door of my prifon was fuddenly 
flung open, and Hiermanfor entered. Although 
I have great reafon> to be angcjr with him, yet 
he appeared to me an angel of tight, in com- 
panion with Aluinbrado. The fight of iiia\" 
roufed my heart from its ftate of dcfpondeucy *, 
however, my former gloomincfs of mind fooii 
returned, w!ien after a long and folemn fiience, . 
he ejtclaimed:- " nuift wc meet again m ihis- 
ptace ?" 

< I could retom no anfwer; the confcioufnefi 
of my guilt lay heavy on my mind, and the 
looks of the Inihman confounded me. With- 
out being alTe^d by my perplexity, be refumed, 
after a fliort fdence: "you was a noble, de- 
ferving young man when I left you, and now I 
find you a rebel." I do not know whether it 
was the accent in which he pronounced tbefc 
wordS) or the truth they implied, that made mjr 
blood ferment on a fuddcn — in fliort, I exclaim- 
«d : "if pu had fulfilled yout promife as an 

'• S „,,„G<fe# 



«3« THE VICTIM OF 

boneft man, I fliould then periiaps not have 
been in this lituation." The IriOiman feeraed 
to be affcfled vehemently. '* By heaven f my 
LoTd 1" he exclaimed, " it wa> no fault of mine, 
z journey, and bufinefa of great importanccr 
pievented me from feeing you fooner. But I do 
not comprehend you fufficiently, will you be fo 
Jund as to explain the meaning of your words i" 

<• I will, as foon as you Iball have given me 
an explanation of an incident which you hare 
promifed to clear up." 

*• What incident do you mean ?" the Irilhr 
man faid. 

" The apparition of Antonip, at the church- 
yard. Was it a natural conti^rance of your 
invention ? 

" It was." 

" Merciful God f 

" What Is the matter with you V 

•< Don't i(k. me, the explanation — the expW 
nation—" 

•'The apparition was eScAcd by means of a 
convex mirror; the vifion which you wanted to 
embrace was nothing elfe but the image of a 
rtatue of your tutor, which was reflc»ed on 
the fpot where It appeared by a mirror placed 
before that ftatu?." 

" But how did it liappea that the mirror ef'* 
caped my obfervation i" 

" You will rfcollefl that thevilion appeared 
not far from the chapel, behind the ^all of' 
which the mirror was placed in fuch 4/mannel!i 
that it could not be perceived by you/' -j 

" And Antonio's ftatue?" -,' 

•• You would have obfcrved it if th^ fight oE 
the apparition had not engroflcd yoiir whole at- 
tention V howcTfr, its having been painted white 
like the reft <i|' the ftatuei ia the «hurch.yard. 



,■.....> God 






MAGICAL DELUSION. 151 

VTobably would have induced you to miftake it 
for the (latue of Tome faint or other, and th^s 
it would not have attraded your attention." 

" But how could the apparition difappear and 
re-appear at my defire i" 

*• That was not difBcuIt. One of my people^ 
who dircfted the mirror through one of the 
church windows, removed it when the viHon 
difappeared, and replaced it again in its proper 
fituation when you defired the phantom to ap- 



«• Don't you believe that I had taken the ne- 
cefflary precaution ? Even- if you had feen the 
niiTror> yet you woirid oot'Jiave difcovered its 
eflcft. I was, however, pretty fure that you 
wouldnotcntcrintoan examination, being well 
aware that you would have no indination of do- 
ing it, becaufe I had defired you to make every 
inreftigation you (hould vriib, and thus prompt- 
ed you to believe that I apprehended no difco~ 
very." 

••However, the phantom fpoke, how could 
that be?" 

" Not the phantom, but Count Clairval, who 
was in the gallery of the chapel, fpoke through 
a fpeaking trumpet. The direction of the trum- 
pet attd the itriking refemblance the phantom 
bore to your tutor, induced you to attribute 
the words which he pronounced to the vifion." 

" Hiermanfor," faid I after a paufe, " then. - 
your lal\ miracle too was a delufion f" 

"You have my confeflion." 

" And nevenhclels you alTured me fo folemn^ 
ly that it was the work of fupernatural power I" 

" I did fo 1 but 1 intended to recant after the 
end which I tuid in view Ibould have betn- at- 
tained* 
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*Si THE VICTIM OF 

uinciU Uiiforefcen * incidents ptvventcd me 
from doing it fooner." 

■■ Why Aid not Count Clairvd recant in yoor 
name, when I entreafcil brm fo folemnly and fb 
prefliig to conff fs the fraud ?" 
. " He had received no orders to .'tliai pur- 
pofe." 

" Tou promifed me, one time, to initiate 
me in a ncw philofopfiy, ami to introduce me 
to an h-iippinefs that is concealed from other 
mortals." 

••-Then [ promifed you what I am not able to 
pnfovtn. Without circumlocution, 1 impofed 
'Upc'H.you !" 

•' And you have the oonrage. to tell, me this 
to^iny face ?" . 

■" I have'fptrijen the iroih, and hope you w:l[ 
forgive me. Yes, i have deceived you, and 
■The filccefs of the revolution depended chiefly 
upon that hmot'ent fraud. I deceived you be- 
er 'fe— foTgive me my frankitefs'— becaufe you 
vould be deceived." 

" Your weialiiy agrees pretty well wilh your.- 
policy." 

• '*i am fiftoniflicd," the hifliman replied 
'With B-contemptuous fnwle, " thilt yaa prefume 
■lo'caU my morality in queftion ; the clangor of 
-tbefe fetters cuntralU very much wiih your mo- 
■y.il ipesches." 

' Scarcety able to retain my rifing indigtwiion, 
'I replied, '■ 'Dut if Icould prove that this iiino- 
cem fraud, as you pleafe lo call it, has been ihe 
ciiief caufc of my crime, of thcfe fetters, and 
■ul my impending execution ?" 

f ilcavcn forbid it r" the Itiftimafi exclaimed, 
r-ixed "aH^-tcTror. 

*' YoH "have excited by your (te ons my 

pTPpenfity to miraeulcus events. '£h& explana- 

',- I tion 



MAG.1CAL DELUSION. jj; ' 

■tioti of your deceptlone ditt iwt at all deflroy 
the dangerous effefl they pro.liiced on my mind, 

, bccaofe I mvet was able to recover «nttrely 

- from rhe erroneous opmion ihat the appariiion 
of thechurcli-yard had been the cffeifl of fuper- 
vatutal power. An infernal impoftor took a<i- 
vincage of 'the fituaii'on oE my mind > and in- 
cited me through new deluJioiw to engage in (he 
.undertaking that has been the caufe of thefe 

■ fetters. Are you now fenfjble of cbe injury I 
have fuffered through you '"' 

'Tlie Iriihman j;rcw paJe, and fcemed de» 
priKcd of the pow-er of utterance. At OHCche 
recovered from liis fuddcn terror, and Itartcd 
up- "Whither arc you going?" 1 eicUimed. 
" To-thc King ?" he replie**. "What buOnefa 
hawfl you with the King ?" 1 enquired. I am go- 
ing to implore him to fparc your life and to (ct 
you at liberty. Forgive me, unfortunate young 
man ! (he. added) forgive me ! I wiil exert every 

. power of pcrfuafion foe the prefervatioii of your, 
life." So laying he left itve, and I have not fecn 
him {ince. Imuft patiently await the effe^ of 
his application. Farewell.! my ftiend, farewell !■ 
I am not afraid of leaving this world, for Ame- 
lia 16 dead, Antonio ia no more, and, alas !- 
my father too will be condemned lodie. How- 
ever, the idea of dying branded with ignominy,, 
thrills me with terror and defpondiiig agony.. 
Gracious Heaven, ward off this dreadiul blow, 
if it be pofliblc I' 

Hefitating between hope and fear, I awarted. 
the day which was to decide the fate of my hap- 
lefs friend. It arrived. — 

My melancholy tale draws nearer tow.ards itt 

conclulion ? why doc? my hand tremble thus i 

why do thefe tears flart from my eyes ? what 

means lliia dreadful agony that aimoll breaks my 

,hcart i 

ctv.-.ii,Googlc 



1S4 THE- VICTIM OF 

heart ? Alai I thy dcKHn is fixed, tll-fat«d vic- 
tim oftteluGonI 

The jodgcs who were to decide the fate of 
the conipirator met, and decreed that the Mar- 
quis of Villa Re*I and the Duke of Ca"ina (bould 
be beheaded as rebels againll the King, whore 
authority they had acknowledged with the reft 
of the ftates of the empire, and the other con* 
fpiratoTS hanged and quartered. The punifh- 
ment of the Primate and the Grand Inquifitov 
Taaleft tothedeciGon of the King. 

The King propofed in the council of ftate In 
vhich this decree was debated, that Come of the 
criminals fhonid be executed, but the reft impri- 
foncd for life. The Marquii of **ira infilled, 
however, upon the execution of the legal punifti- 
meni) and was feconded by ihe other members. 
The King mitigated the punifhrnciU of thoie who 
had been fcnienced to be hanged,- ordering them 
to be beheaded. The two prelates, whofe fate 
had been left to his Royal plcafure, were doonw 
ed to eternal imprifonment. 

Going to Court the next day, I heard Alum- 
brado had found m«ans to efcape from hit pri- 
fon. It was believed Oliv'rez had bribed the 
gaoler by a large fum to fuffcr him to liberate 
himfeif, which appeared to me very probable, 
as the latter could be found no where, and very 
likely had joined the villain in his flight, who, 
howeveT, as it is to be wilhed for the beft of hu- 
man kind, will not efcape the puniOmnent due to 
liis crimes*. 

What 

• He did not efrap* Ae vengeance of Maarcn if, » I have 

reifon to liirpofe, Alumbrado is the fsme pcifon with Vi'o»-«. 
The lalter fled from Porfal to Spain, deceiTed the Miniftei 
thiough hii pretended occult, knowledge, and continued to be 
CDiiBe<9c<) with him after lie had been remsvcd from the hiUm 

•f eovciiimeiit. HoTr«vcr-«jatnke;.n}uch Aluinbradamide 
V* • 

c'v=-Ji.>t-i00g[c 



MAGICAL DELUSION. tSi 

What lam going to relate now is the account 
of an eye-witnefs, for how couM I have been 
picfent on fuch an hcart>breaking occalion ? 

On the 28ch of Auguft a ^affbld, coYered 
with black cloth, was ercAed before the houfe 
where the prifonera had been confined the prece- 
ding night. On this fcaflbld three fteps were 
Seea, on each of which a chair wat placed^ the 
upper one for the Duke of Cam^na. the middle 
chair for the Marquw of Vllb R"al, and the 
lower one for the Ddce of Ar*xtnar. 

The Marquis of Villa R.*al was the firft whO' 
ftepped out of one of the windows of the houfe, 
which ferred inftead of a door. He begged the 
br-tlanders pardon in a fhon fpeech, and was be- 
headed. 

As fooa as bis corpfewaa covered, hisfon made 
his appearance. His pale and ftaring countenance 
refemUed that of a corpfe. He uttered not a 
fytlable, feated himfelf on the chair, and one 
blow fevered his head from his body. 

The pea drops from my hand, and the idea of 
that horrid fccoe curdles the btood in my veins. 
Reader, who art peru6ng thcfc pages, look back 
once more on the road on which a noble young 
man, adorned with the mod excellent genius, 
and the bell of hearts, fufiered himfelf to be 
reduced to a crime for ^ich he atoned with hia 
Hfel 

ta Tb1**o, where he ittemKed to pUr off hit nufiul dcluS- 
on*. hroDght oD hia deftrD^DD ; he wai Teiied by the oScem 
of the Inquilition, and ciccDted as a heretic and a rorcerer. 
OH'arei too wuarrefied bvthc Inquilitioii, vAta chat ruthlelk 
tribunal w«i iuformEd of hii caiiDediaa with the vilUiDoaa 
Alumbrado : hit relation) arc, how«*er, belicTcd lo have dif- 

' patched him by poiUbn, in order to fparc him the difEnce at a 

.public fiecution. 

Muijuiiof Sad ••••*• 

C ON- 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



^6 THZ VICTIM OF 

CONTINUATION- 

(By an Unknown Hand.) 

The Marqu'S of F", to whom the preceding 

Memoirs ha li bf«i enwuftcd for publication, dy- 
ing nine wecki ^fier the exct:utJon of hU uoliap- 
py friend, left tlisfe interefting papers to me, 
after I hari promiCed him on his death -bed to exe- 
cute the lalt coqucft of their ill^a ted author. I 
have difdiargcd ihe truft repofcd in me {ome 
ycnre (Ince, and the cliarafterof the poor delud- 
ed ycung man has been Tindicaced in-the eyes of 
thepubtic, wlio havj; received ihe mournful tale 
of his misfortunes with tears of pity. The con- 
tinuation of thefe extraordinary Memoirs, which 
1 am going to add, is fo wonderful and remarka- 
ble, lliflt I wifli it had Leon in my power to com:- 
municate it to the public along with the r«ft ; the 
whole being, however, a fecret of date, which 
1 am not allowed to difcjofe while the pcifons 
concerned in it are alive, I ftiall, perhaps, be ob- 
liged to leave the publication of the fubfe^ucnt 
pages to my children- 
Nine years are already clapfed Rnce the exe- 
cution of th« confpirators, and the death of the. 
Martjuis of F* and- the Duke ofCa*tiia, whofe 
haplefs fate the latter has bewailed in Talent 
grief, and who generally is believed to have been 
executed with the reft of his atlbciatcs, is yet. 
alive. 

The Xing, who ardently wiftwd to fpare the 
life of the Duke, but at the fame time was afraid 
of countcrafling the decree of the council of 
ftatc, who had doomed him to public execution, 
found himfcifin no fmall embarraflment. How- 
ever, the Irifliman, who wiChed with equal ar- 
dour 

D51z=.JnGOOglC 



MAGICAL DELUSION. J57 

Jour to fave the life of the poor mifguided young 
man. Toon found out means of diflblving the 
Gordian knot. " I could," did he to the King, 
" make a malk, which no one (hould be able to 
difcern from the real phyfiognomy of the Duke ; 
and this ma(k I could fsilen to the face of fotnc 
other perfou, in fuch a manner, that every one 
ihould believe that perfoii to be the Duke. If, 
therefore, we can find a perfon who refcmblcs 
bim in Czc, and in the make of his body, and a: 
the fame time Ihall be willing to lofe liis head in 
the place of the Duke, ic will not be difficult to 
fave Che life of the latter, without either offend - 
"ing the Senate, or leaving hini at liberfy to con-' 
fpire a fecond time agaiuft the life of your Rla-7 
jsily. 'Hiis perfon, who in every refpeil will 
anfwer our purpofe, is AiuiniraJj. He is of the 
fame Cxe with (he Duke, and if. informed tiiat 
he is condemned to be torn by horfes, will not 
refirie to accept the malk, and to die by the 
fword in the place of the Duke. In order ta 
cover this innocent fraud, we mufl give out that 
Aluii)bi'ado ba^s efcaped from the prilbn, and thus 
the -bcricvolent wiih of your Majclty can be ac- 
compHJhed witli fccrecy and tafety." 

This plan of the Jriihman was executed with 
the privily and afTidance of only a few perfons^ 
who took a folcmii oatli^ ne.er to dil'clole tlie fc- 
cret, and Alun.brado was beheaded in the-room 
■of tlie Duke, TJie deceit was carried o,n fo dex- 
iteroufly, that none of thofe who witneiTcd iiis 
.execution, fufpccled him to be any other perfuii 
■but the Duke whom he leprefented. 

Tlic latter, however, knew nothing of this 
fraud that had been piacUfed in his favour, for 
although the Iriibman had modelled liis face i:v 
wax, yet he had not received the moft dilUut 
Lint of the p^rpole for which it bAd been done. 
When 



a5« THE VICTIM OF 

When he w» carried out of his dungeon, a few 
hours after the execution of his father and the 
dlfguifed Alumbrado, and led through a darl;' 
fubterraneous palTage, he fancied that he was to 
' meet his dsom. He was condufted over many 
fccrct ftair-cafes, and at length entered, through 
an iron door, a dark apartment where ht was or- 
dered to wait. Eut foon after a fecond door was 
opened, and an apartment illuminated with ■num- 
berlefs torches prefented itfclf to his view. 
There he beheld the King fitting at a table, and 
a man with a facte and a fword ilatiding bj bit 
lide, who beckoned him to ftep nearer. The 
Duke having entered the aparimem, the door 
was bolted after him, . and he expcfted- ercry 
moment to be his laft; The King looked at him 
for fome time without fpeaking a word, and at 
laft began :■— •* Tou hare deligned the ruin of 
your country, and confpired againft my life, 
what do you think you defervc ?" •■ Death I" the 
Duke replied. '* You have been doomed by the 
Council of State to differ a very painful dearii i t 
have, however, mitigated their fentence into that 
of your being executed by the fword." The Duke 
thanked the King for his clemency, and looked 
at the man whom he millook for the executioner^ 
« Your fentpncc has been executed already 1" 
the King refumed-after a long paufe of awful 
expectation. The fiiciice of the Duke, and the 
cxprelTion of his features, befpokc his defirc &t 
an explanation of tliefe rayfterious words. " Ton 
gaze at me j" the Kiirg added, " you doubt', per- 
haps, the truth of what I have faid f liowever 
you fhall foon be convinced." So faying, he- 
made a Ggnal CO the man - who was (landing by 
his fide, upon which the latter opened the fack, 
and taking out a head recently cut off, fhowed 
ic to the Doke^ who daggered', back when he 
difceined- 



MAGICAL DELUSION. X59 

difcerned ha own features ia the face of the 
bleeding head. The whole myftciy was now 
explained to him, and the King added ; " Ton 
owe your life to my mercy and the invention of 
the trilhman; it i*i however, not in my power 
to reltore you to human fociety. Although you 
are alive, yet you will be numbered among the 
dead» and be lod to the world for ever.- Tou 
will pafs your life baniQied from focietyi and de- 
prayed of liberty, yet you may reft affiired that 
none of the comforts of lifer liberty excepted^ 
will be denied you." 

This fcntence was executed literally. The 
Duke was confined for the reft of his life in > 
ftrong tower fituated on the river Ta?*o, where 
bandfome apartments were aUotted to him, atut 
wanted oolhing but liberty. 



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