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" Amen , " solemly murmured the old man , as lie conducted his visitor from the tower . " Farewell , good Master Paracelsus , " cordially said the visitor , extending his hand . He then declaimed merrily , " By the Apostle Paul , shadows to-night , Havo struck more terror to the soul of Richard , Than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers . "

" Ah me ! " sighed the astrologer , " 1 knew the mighty spirit well who wrote-those lines . Excuse , sir , an old man ' s loquacitybut when Shakespeare lived at Uanksiro yonder he often rowed over and honoured this poor domicile with his presence . He was a great believer in the supernatural and frequently consulted me relative to mystical matters . 1 assisted him in devising tho incantation scenes

in 'Macbeth , ' and suggested some of the . spiritual effects in ' Hamlet and ' Richard thc Third . ' People are amazed , and it is probable , as years roll on , that that amazement will increase at the wondrous , almost superhuman knowledge he possessed of all things . It was obtained , sir , believe me , not so much by reading and observation , as

by consulting men versed in special matters , to wit , clever theologians , botanists , lawyers , heralds , philosophers , doctors and others , and clothing their prosaic information with his own beautiful language and the imagery of genius . He was an amiable companion , sir , with pleasant courtly maimers , and all men vied to do him honour and to serve him . "

" I have often met him and Ben Jonson at various masques and revels when I was a stripling , " remarked the cavalier . " They both appeared to be merry madcaps . I admired Shakespeare on account of . his modesty and refinement . Jonson "was too boisterous ,

selfassertive , and apt to bc quarrelsome in his cups . Again good-night . Thou mayest hear from me anon as to the easting of my horoscope . " Paracelsus , upon whose shoulder "Cyclops " the cat had perched , bowed his visitor out , and the latter rejoined his attendants , just as the many city clocks were chiming the half-hour after nine .

When the boat was in mid-stream the cavalier ' s companion said a fdy words and pointed to the Southwark Gate of London Bridge upon which were displayed on pikes the decapitated heads of those who had offended against the State . " I note the gruesome objects , good Francois , " was the reply , and

the speaker ' s voice faltered aud he shuddered . " I viewed them from the house of Paracelsus a short time since . I suppose that the skull of that arch-traitor , Father Garnet , is amongst them Y " " It is , " replied Francois . The conversation ceased and the party soon landed at Whitehall Stairs .

Many years passed . One fine morning early in the month of September a well dressed man sought admittance at the dwelling of the old philosopher . He was answered by an ancient serving man . " Is your master , within , " he enquired . " He is , sir , was the reply , but he is very busy in his laboratory , and I durst not disturb him . "

" Perhaps , thy . courage will be streughtened it 1 give thee a crown , " returned the other , laughing * "Tell him , if the event still lives in his recollection , that the gallant who consulted him on the eve of All Hallow ' s years ago wishes to see him again . " Clutching the money in his boney hand , the old man straightway departed . Shortl y afterwards he returned and asked the . visitor to take a seat within a small ante-chamber in the basement . In a few

minutes , Paracelsus , entered . His eye was as bright , his complexion as fresh , his carriage as erect and his voice as clear as when he was first introduced to the reader . " My servant tells me , " said the astrologer , " that a gentleman who saw me nearly a quarter of a century since desires another interview . Js his residence far from here ? "

" Some miles up thc river . " " I was commanded to tell thee that if thy health will not permit of thy braving the night air , that lodgings will be provided for thee till thy return home to-morrow . " " I give thee thanks for the proffered courtsey but I cannot accept

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it , as for forty years I have not slept away from this roof and 1 do not intend to do so whilst I live . " "As it pleases thee not to avail thyself of my master ' s hospitality 1 will personally escort thee home to-night after thou hast seen him . " Paracelsus bowed .

" By the way , I am to inform thee that thou wert to brinir thy instruments or matters connected with th y profession in the art of divination ; they may be required , '' added the messenger . The philosopher left the apartment and speedily returned equi pped for the journey . He had cast aside his fantastic robe and appeared soberly attired as a well-to-do citizen of the period . He was conducted to a large barge , manned by six rowers . It was a gloriously

bright morning and the river danced and sparkled in the sunli ght . Soon after passing the gardens of "Lambeth Palace , smiling meadows , lich corn-fields , orchards and pastures presented their beauties to the enraptured gaze of the old philosopher , who , for many years , had not been so far from the crowded and smoke begrimed Vintry . After several hours hard pulling thc bargemen at a sign from their superior ceased rowing .

" I pray thee , sir , be not alarmed , but I must ask thee to allow me to place this bandage over thins eyes till we reach our destination . I may tell thee that mine honoured master so willed it , " respectfull y said the messenger . "As thou wilt , 1 fear naught , " was the stout rejoinder of the sage , and then he added , senteiitiously " I am not fated to die b y violent means—the stars tell me that . "

About half-an-hour later the barge was made fast to a landingstage , and the party disembarked . Taking Paracelsus gently by the arm , his conductor led him through a plantation and , unlocking a postern opening upon a fli ght of stone steps , he guided him up the

stairs and into a room . The bandage having been removed from his eyes , the philosopher perceived that be was in a well-furnished apartment . At one end was a chair , aud seated therein was the figure of a handsomely-formed man , attired in a costume of black silk . His features were masked .

" I am glad to see thee once more and looking so well , good Master Paracelsus , " said the unknown , speaking in a low musical voice .

" 1 give thee thanks , dear sir , replied the other , bowing . " I am pleased to say that the weig ht of my ninety years and four still sits lightly on me . But , although your features are concealed from me , 1 can plainly see by thy hair and beard , the lines in thy neck and other signs , that Time has not dealt so kindly with thee . Thou hast grown prematurely old—I prithee , pardon my rudeness . "

" Thou speakest truly , old friend , returned the cavalier ; . " I have aged very much . Ah , me ! I have gone through many trials since I last saw thee , and I fear that the worst is yet to come . " He then added , with a smile , " How fares mine old enemy , Cyclops Y " " The poor creature paid Nature ' s debt long since , " was the reply . " Couldst thou not have prolonged its life by thy wondrous quintessence ? " continued the other , ironically .

"The lives of men and the lower animals , sir , are not governed by the same laws ; the latter have no souls ; they fill certain places on earth for a time , and then by a natural course perish . They have no higher destiny . "

" 1 have summoned thee here to-day , worthy Paracelsus , " said the unknown , "to test thy skill again . Thou didst exercise thy erudite power in chiromancy aud astrology , and , alas ! "—here he sighed heavily— " thy predictions thus far have been verified . Is there any way , other than the terrible mirror trial , by which my ultimate fate may be foretold Y I yet cling to the hope that the black clouds of augured doom may bc dispersed . "

" The true Rosicrucian , sir , and 1 humbly crave to be one of the enlightened , professes to be capable of exercising thu g ift of divination by the aid of the four elements , that is lo say , by Geoniancy . Aeromancy , Pyromancy , and Hydronianey . We call them the font ordeals . "

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