Volume III Part 21 (2/2)
”Do you like proble which contains difficulties and offers curious results”
”I will give you so which will please you”
I hted her In return, she spewed me some trifles hich I ell acquainted, but which I pretended to think very astonishi+ng My good genius then inspireddivination by the cabala I told her to ask a question in writing, and assured her that by a certain kind of calculation a satisfactory ansould be obtained She smiled, and asked why I had returned to Amsterdam so soon I shewed her how to make the pyramid with the proper numbers and the other ceremonies, then Iit into French, and greatly was she surprised to find that the cause which had made me return to Amsterdam so soon was--love
Quite confounded, she said it was very wonderful, even though the answer ht not be true, and she wished to knohat masters could teach this mode of calculation
”Those who know it cannot teach it to anyone”
”How did you learn it, then?”
”From a precious manuscript I inherited from my father”
”Sell it me”
”I have burnt it; and I am not empowered to coe of fifty”
”Why fifty?”
”I don't know; but I do know that if I coe I should run the risk of losing it myself The elementary spirit who is attached to the oracle would leave it”
”How do you know that?”
”I saw it so stated in the manuscript I have spoken of”
”Then you are able to discover all secrets?”
”Yes, or I should be if the replies were not sometimes too obscure to be understood”
”As it does not take et me an answer to another question?”
”With pleasure; you can co not forbidden by my familiar spirit”
She asked what her destiny would be, and the oracle replied that she had not yet taken the first step towards it Esther was astonished and called her governess to see the two answers, but the good wo wonderful in them whatever Esther impatiently called her a blockhead, and entreated ed her to do so, and she asked,
”Who loves me most in Amsterdam?” The oracle replied that no one loved her as well as he who had given her being: Poor Esther then told rief if she could not succeed in learning the ave no answer, and pretended to feel sad at heart She began to write down another question, putting her hand in front so as to screen the paper I rose as if to get out of her way, but while she was arranging the pyra up and down the rooone as far as I had taught her, she askedthat I could do so without reading the question I agreed to do so on the condition that she would not ask a second time
As I had seen her question, it was easy for ht shew the questions she had propounded to her father, and the ansas that she would be happy as long as she had no secrets froave a cry of surprise, and could find no words ith to express her gratitude tobusiness conversation with M Pels