She stood in prayer, and when at last her eyes were lifted
she saw the feet of Angels circling in the Heavens."
"She saw the feet of Angels?" repeated Wilfrid.
"Yes," said the old man.
"Was it a dream that she told you?" asked Wilfrid.
"A dream as real as your life," answered David; "I was there."
The calm assurance of the old servant affected Wilfrid powerfully. He
went away asking himself whether these visions were any less
extraordinary than those he had read of in Swedenborg the night
before.
"If Spirits exist, they must act," he was saying to himself as he
entered the parsonage, where he found Monsieur Becker alone.
"Dear pastor," he said, "Seraphita is connected with us in form only,
and even that form is inexplicable. Do not think me a madman or a
lover; a profound conviction cannot be argued with. Convert my belief
into scientific theories, and let us try to enlighten each other.
To-morrow evening we shall both be with her."
"What then?" said Monsieur Becker.
"If her eye ignores space," replied Wilfrid, "if her thought is an
intelligent sight which enables her to perceive all things in their
essence, and to connect them with the general evolution of the
universe, if, in a word, she sees and knows all, let us seat the
Pythoness on her tripod, let us force this pitiless eagle by threats
to spread its wings! Help me! I breathe a fire which burns my vitals;
I must quench it or it will consume me.
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