The Ghost-Seer; or the Apparitionist | Page 5

she exclaimed, taking her crown from her head, and laying it at the
feet of the prince. Every one present cast their eyes upon him, and
doubted for some time whether there was any meaning in this farce; so
much were they deceived by the impressive seriousness of the actress.
This silence was at length broken by a general clapping of hands, as a
mark of approbation. I looked at the prince. I noticed that he appeared
not a little disconcerted, and endeavored to escape the inquisitive
glances of the spectators. He threw money to the players, and hastened
to extricate himself from the crowd.
We had advanced but a few steps when a venerable barefooted friar,
pressing through the crowd, placed himself in the prince's path. "My
lord," said he, "give the holy Virgin part of your gold. You will want
her prayers." He uttered these words in a tone of voice which startled us
extremely, and then disappeared in the throng.
In the meantime our company had increased. An English lord, whom
the prince had seen before at Nice, some merchants of Leghorn, a
German prebendary, a French abbe with some ladies, and a Russian
officer, attached themselves to our party. The physiognomy of the latter
had something so uncommon as to attract our particular attention.
Never in my life did I see such various features and so little expression;
so much attractive benevolence and such forbidding coldness in the
same face. Each passion seemed by turns to have exercised its ravages
on it, and to have successively abandoned it. Nothing remained but the
calm, piercing look of a person deeply skilled in the knowledge of

mankind; but it was a look that abashed every one on whom it was
directed. This extraordinary man followed us at a distance, and seemed
apparently to take but little interest in what was passing.
We came to a booth where there was a lottery. The ladies bought shares.
We followed their example, and the prince himself purchased a ticket.
He won a snuffbox. As he opened it I saw him turn pale and start back.
It contained his lost key.
"How is this?" said he to me, as we were left for a moment alone. "A
superior power attends me, omniscience surrounds me. An invisible
being, whom I cannot escape, watches over my steps. I must seek for
the Armenian, and obtain an explanation from him."
The sun was setting when we arrived at the pleasurehouse, where a
supper had been prepared for us. The prince's name had augmented our
company to sixteen. Besides the above-mentioned persons there was a
virtuoso from Rome, several Swiss gentlemen, and an adventurer from
Palermo in regimentals, who gave himself out for a captain. We
resolved to spend the evening where we were, and to return home by
torchlight. The conversation at table was lively. The prince could not
forbear relating his adventure of the key, which excited general
astonishment. A warm dispute on the subject presently took place.
Most of the company positively maintained that the pretended occult
sciences were nothing better than juggling tricks. The French abbe,
who had drank rather too much wine, challenged the whole tribe of
ghosts, the English lord uttered blasphemies, and the musician made a
cross to exorcise the devil. Some few of the company, amongst whom
was the prince, contended that opinions respecting such matters ought
to be kept to oneself. In the meantime the Russian officer discoursed
with the ladies, and did not seem to pay attention to any part of
conversation. In the heat of the dispute no one observed that the
Sicilian had left the room. In less than half an hour he returned wrapped
in a cloak, and placed himself behind the chair of the Frenchman. "A
few moments ago," said he, "you had the temerity to challenge the
whole tribe of ghosts. Would you wish to make a trial with one of
them?"

"I will," answered the abbe, "if you will take upon yourself to introduce
one."
"That I am ready to do," replied the Sicilian, turning to us, "as soon as
these ladies and gentlemen have left us."
"Why only then?" exclaimed the Englishman. "A courageous ghost will
surely not be afraid of a cheerful company."
"I would not answer for the consequences," said the Sicilian.
"For heaven's sake, no!" cried the ladies, starting affrighted from their
chairs.
"Call your ghost," said the abbe, in a tone of defiance, "but warn him
beforehand that there are sharp-pointed weapons here." At the same
time he asked one of the company for a sword.
"If you preserve the same intention in his presence," answered the
Sicilian, coolly, "you may then act as you please." He then turned
towards the prince: "Your highness," said he, "asserts