and good. I could not but be sensible how beneficial this sudden separation would prove to me, and that I certainly should have been infected with very dangerous opinions, if the Austrian's pride had not been wounded so deeply by the detection of Volkert's frauds, and if he had not been prompted thus to confess that he had been deceived.
The high opinion I entertained of his rectitude, the superiority of his understanding, and his infalibility, would, without doubt, have converted me entirely to his belief in supernatural apparitions, and that certain people had the power to effect phenomenons of that kind, a doctrine which exposes us to the artful wiles of every cunning cheat, darkens our understanding, stains our reason with superstition, and poisons our happiness: He was, nevertheless, still dear to my heart, and the idol of my soul, and even now I would willingly sacrifice any thing if I could be united again to that extraordinary man, who, by his reverend appearance, his exemplary manners,his
