The Ghost-Seer; or the Apparitionist | Page 9

fell to the ground. The perspiration stood on my brow with
horror. Baron ------ afterwards confessed to me that he had prayed
silently.
During all this time the prince stood fearless and tranquil, his eyes
riveted on the second apparition. "Yes, I know thee," said he at length,
with emotion; "thou art Lanoy; thou art my friend. Whence comest
thou?"
"Eternity is mute. Ask me concerning my past life."
"Who is it that lives in the convent which thou mentionedst to me in thy
last moments?"
"My daughter."
"How? Hast thou been a father?"
"Woe is me that I was not."
"Art thou not happy, Lanoy?"
"God has judged."
"Can I render thee any further service in this world?"
"None but to think of thyself."
"How must I do that?"
"Thou wilt learn at Rome."
The thunder again rolled; a black cloud of smoke filled the room; when
it had dispersed the figure was no longer visible. I forced open one of

the window shutters. It was daylight.
The sorcerer now recovered from his swoon. "Where are we?" asked he,
seeing the daylight.
The Russian officer stood close beside him, and looked over his
shoulder. "Juggler," said he to him, with a terrible countenance, "Thou
shalt summon no more ghosts."
The Sicilian turned round, looked steadfastly in his face, uttered a loud
shriek, and threw himself at his feet.
We looked all at once at the pretended Russian. The prince instantly
recognized the features of the Armenian, and the words he was about to
utter expired on his tongue. We were all as it were petrified with fear
and amazement. Silent and motionless, our eyes were fixed on this
mysterious being, who beheld us with a calm but penetrating look of
grandeur and superiority. A minute elapsed in this awful silence;
another succeeded; not a breath was to be heard.
A violent battering against the door roused us at last from this stupor.
The door fell in pieces into the room, and several officers of justice,
with a guard, rushed in. "Here they are, all together," said the leader to
his followers. Then addressing himself to us, "In the name of the
government," continued he, "I arrest you." We had no time to recollect
ourselves; in a few moments we were surrounded. The Russian officer,
whom I shall again call the Armenian, took the chief officer aside, and,
as far as I in my confusion could notice, I observed him whisper a few
words to the latter, and show him a written paper. The officer, bowing
respectfully, immediately quitted him, turned to us, and taking off his
hat, said "Gentlemen, I humbly beg your pardon for having confounded
you with this impostor. I shall not inquire who you are, as this
gentleman assures me you are men of honor." At the same time he gave
his companions a sign to leave us at liberty. He ordered the Sicilian to
be bound and strictly guarded. "The fellow is ripe for punishment,"
added he; "we have been searching for him these seven months."
The wretched sorcerer was really an object of pity. The terror caused by

the second apparition, and by this unexpected arrest, had together
overpowered his senses. Helpless as a child, he suffered himself to be
bound without resistance. His eyes were wide open and immovable; his
face was pale as death; his lips quivered convulsively, but he was
unable to utter a sound. Every moment we expected he would fall into a
fit. The prince was moved by the situation in which he saw him. He
undertook to procure his discharge from the leader of the police, to
whom he discovered his rank. "Do you know, gracious prince," said the
officer, "for whom your highness is so generously interceding? The
juggling tricks by which he endeavored to deceive you are the least of
his crimes. We have secured his accomplices; they depose terrible facts
against him. He may think himself fortunate if he is only punished with
the galleys."
In the meantime we saw the innkeeper and his family led bound
through the yard. "This man, too?" said the prince; "and what is his
crime?"
"He was his comrade and accomplice," answered the officer. "He
assisted him in his deceptions and robberies, and shared the booty with
him. Your highness shall be convinced of it presently. Search the
house," continued he, turning to his followers, "and bring me
immediate notice of what you find."
The prince looked around for the Armenian, but he had disappeared. In
the confusion occasioned by the arrival of the watch he had found
means to steal away unperceived. The prince was inconsolable; he
declared he would send all his servants, and would himself go in search
of this mysterious man; and he wished me to go