The Count of Gabalis

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...son of wisdom, to join yourself to him and allow you to take part in the wonders of his omnipotence.

The novelty of this greeting at first excited my astonishment, and I began for the first time to suspect that one might occasionally have original: "Erscheinungen" — this refers to visions or supernatural apparitions, a common topic in 18th-century ghost-seeing narratives. visions; nonetheless, I took heart as best I could and looked at him as politely as my slight fear would allow. "Whoever you may be," I said, "you whose address is not of this world, I consider it a great honor that you have wished to visit me; but permit me, if it pleases you, that before I worship the God of the Sages: A common term in Hermetic and Rosicrucian thought for a universal, divine intellect accessible only to the enlightened., I might know of which sage and of which God you speak; be so kind as to cast yourself into this armchair, and take the trouble to tell me: who is this God, who are these sages, what is this society: Likely referring to a secret initiatory order, such as the Rosicrucians or the Illuminati, which were popular subjects of speculation during this era., what are these wonders of omnipotence, and finally—or above all else—with what manner of creature do I have the honor of speaking?"

"You act very wisely, my lord," he replied with a smile, and took the chair which