The Man Who Sees Ghosts by Friedrich von Schiller

moment it was seen as not supernatural. In short, I was the idolised apostle of the house. The lectures I gave were usually about the exaltation of human nature and intercourse with higher beings, my authority the infallible Count Gabalis. The young Countess, who, since the loss of her beloved, lived anyway more in the spiritual than the real world and who, because of the rapturous flight of her imagination, was drawn with passionate interest to things of this nature, responded with frightening relish to the suggestions I threw out. Yes, even the servants of the house found themselves things to do in the room whenever I was speaking, in order to pick up the odd word of mine here and there, later stringing these fragments together in their own fashion.
    “In this way I may have spent about two months at this nobleman’s residence, when one morning the young cavalier, Lorenzo, came into my room. His face was a picture the deepest grief with all its features contorted: he threw himself into a chair with every sign of despair.
    “‘Captain,’ he said, ‘it is all over with me. I must go away; I cannot bear it any longer.’
    “‘What is it, my lord? What is wrong?’
    “‘Oh this terrible passion!’ (Here he rose impetuously from the chair and threw himself into my arms.) ‘I have struggled against it like a man—but now I cannot continue any longer.’
    “‘But on whom does it depend, my dear friend, except yourself? Is not everything in your power? Father,—family?’
    “‘Father—family! What is that to me? Do you think Iwant a hand given under duress, and not her freely given affection? And don’t I have a rival? Ah, and who? A rival perhaps who numbers among the dead! Oh leave me, leave me! Even if I should have to go to the ends of the world, I must find my brother.’
    “‘What? How, after so many failed attempts, can you still harbour any hope…’
    “‘Hope!—In my heart it died long ago. But has it in hers? What does it matter if I still have hope? Can I be happy as long as a glimmer of this hope lives in Antonie’s heart?—Two words, my friend, could end my martyrdom—but what’s the use! My fate will remain a misery until eternity breaks its long silence, and graves testify for me.’
    “‘So it is certainty, then, which could make you happy?’
    “‘Happy? Ah, I doubt whether I could ever again be that!—But uncertainty is the most terrible thing to be condemned to!’ (After a silence he grew calmer and then continued sadly.) ‘Oh, if he could see my suffering! Can this loyalty make him happy, if it is the cause of his brother’s misery? Should a living man languish for the sake of a dead one no longer capable of pleasure? If he only knew the torment I suffer…’ (here he began to weep violently and pressed his face against my chest), ‘perhaps—yes, then perhaps he would himself lead her to me and place her in my arms.’
    “‘But why should this wish of yours be so utterly beyond fulfilment?’
    “‘My friend! What are you saying?’ He gave me a frightened look.
    “‘The departed have intervened in the destinies of theliving,’ I continued, ‘for far less weighty cause. Is not the whole temporal happiness of a man—of a brother—’
    “‘The whole temporal happiness! Oh, that’s how I feel! What a true word you have spoken there! My whole—bliss!’
    “‘- and the peace of a family in mourning, are these not sufficient causes to call upon the aid of the invisible powers? Of course they are! Whenever an earthly matter can justify disturbing the peace of the blessed—justify making use of a power—’
    “‘For Heaven’s sake, my friend,’ he interrupted, ‘no more of that! Once, I admit, I did entertain such a thought—I think I spoke to you about it—but for a long time now I have dismissed it as wicked and detestable.’
    “I am sure you can see,” continued the Sicilian, “where this led us. I endeavoured to dispel the young nobleman’s