THE FRENCH CONVULSIVES. 445 



at a glance the thoughts at the bottom of the most discreet hearts. The 

 manners and wisdom of all the nations of the earth seemed concentrated on 

 his cold countenance, as the productions of the universe were accumulated 

 in his dusty magazines." 



While occupied in gazing on a splendid picture exhibited to him 

 by this singular being, our hero betrays, by an involuntary exclama- 

 tion, his intention of putting an end to his existence. To the inquiries 

 of the hoary sage relative to the cause whicli could dictate such a re- 

 solution, Raphael answers proudly that it mattered not, and that he 

 cared not to beg succour or consolation. " Without giving you 

 either," replied the sage, " I can make you richer, more powerful 

 and respected than a constitutional king." So saying he directed his 

 auditor's attention to a phenomenon immediately over his head but 

 we shall give the author's words : 



" Hanging upon a nail on the wall, a piece of chagrin (an Oriental leather), 

 not exceeding in dimensions a fox's skin, seemed to project rays of light, in 

 the profound obscurity which reigned in the apartment, resembling those of 

 a little comet. The incredulous youth approached the talisman, so powerful 

 against misfortune, deriding it by a suppressed expression ; but actuated by a 

 very excusable curiosity, he bent forward to view it alternately under every 

 variety of position ; and he then discovered a very natural cause for its sin- 

 gular brilliancy. The black grains of the skin were polished so carefully and 

 so wonderfully the capricious rays emitted by them were so regular and 

 neat, that, like the facets of granite, the asperities of this Oriental leather 

 seemed so many foci, which strongly reflected the light. He demonstrated 

 to the old man the mathematical reason for this phenomenon, but his only 

 reply was a malicious smile. This smile of superiority caused the young 

 savant to imagine that he was made the dupe of some imposture ; and not 

 wishing to carry with him to the tomb an additional enigma, he turned the 

 skin with the precipitation of a child eager to learn the innocent secrets of a 

 new plaything. ' Hah !' cried he, ' here is the impress of the seal, called 

 by the Orientals the Seal of Solomon !' ' Do you know it, then ?' inquired 

 the dealer in curiosities, whose nostrils gave forth two or three puffs of air, 

 which conveyed more ideas than the most energetic words. ' Can any one 

 he so simple as to believe in the existence of this chimera ?' cried Raphael, 

 piqued at observing that silent laugh, so full of bitterness and derision. 

 ' Since you are an Orientalist/ said the old man, ' perhaps you will be able 

 to read this sentence. Advancing the light close to the talisman, which the 

 young man held reversed, he discovered to his eyes characters encrusted in 

 the cellular texture of the wonderful skin, as if they had been produced by 

 the animal to which it had belonged. The mysterious words were thus dis- 

 posed : 



" If thou dost possess me, thou shalt possess all 



Things. But thy life shall belong to me. 



God has willed it thus. Desire, and 



Thy desires shall be accomplished ; 



But regulate thy wishes by thy 



Life. It is here. At each 



Wish I shall decrease like 



Thy days. Likest thou 



Me? Take me. God 



Will hear you. 



Let it be. 

 " ' Well, then, I would have knowledge/ said the stranger, seizing the 



