tempts to form the precious metals, even as by art we can perfect those other operations, of incubation, distillation, fermentation, and similar processes of an ordinary description, by which we extract life itself out of a senseless egg, summon purity and vitality out of muddy dregs, or call into vivacity the inert substance of a sluggish liquid ?”

"I have heard all this before,” said Varney; "and my heart is proof against such cant ever since I sent twenty good gold pieces, (marry it was in the nonage of my wit,) to advance the grand magisterium, which all, God help the while, vanished in fumo. Since that moment, when I paid for my freedom, I defy chemistry, astrology, palmistry, and every other occult art, were it as secret as hell itself, to unloose the stricture of my purse-strings. Marry, I neither defy the manna of Saint Nicholas, nor can I dispense with it. Thy first task must be to prepare some when thou getst down to my little sequestrated retreat yonder, and then make as much gold as thou wilt."

7 "I will make no more of that dose," said the Alchemist, resolutely.

Then," said the master of the horse," thou shalt be hanged for what thou hast made already, and so were the great secret for ever lost to mankind. Do not humanity this injustice, good fa ther, but e'en bend to thy destiny, and make us an ounce or two of this same stuff, which cannot prejudice above one or two individuals, in order to gain life-time to discover the universal medicine, which shall clear away all mortal diseases at once. But cheer up, thou grave, learned, and most melancholy jackanape! Hast thou not told me, that a moderate portion of thy drug hath mild effects, no ways dangerous to the human frame, but which produce depression of spirits, nausea, headache, an unwillingness to change of place-even such a state of temper as would keep a bird from flying out of a cage, were the door left open ?"

"I have said so, and it is true," said the alchemist; "this effect will it produce, and the bird who partakes of it in such proportion, shall sit for a season drooping on her perch, without thinking either of the free blue sky, or of the fair greenwood, though the one be lighted by the rays of

the rising sun, and the other ringing with the newly awakened song of all the feathered inhabitants of the forest."

"And this without danger to life ?" said Varney, somewhat anxiously.

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Ay, so that proportion and measure be not exceeded; and so that one who knows the nature of the manna be ever near to watch the symptoms, and succour in case of need."

"Thou shalt regulate the whole," said Varney; "thy reward shall be princely, if thou keep'st time and touch, and exceedest not the due proportion to the prejudice of her health-otherwise thy punishment shall be as signal.”

"The prejudice of her health !" repeated Alasco; "it is, then, a woman I am to use my skill upon ?"

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No, thou fool,” replied Varney," said I not it was a bird-a reclaimed linnet, whose pipe might sooth a hawk when in mid stoop ?—I see thine eye sparkle, and I know thy beard is not altogether so white as art has made it-that, at least, thou hast been able to transmute to silver. But mark me, this is no mate for thee. This

caged bird is dear to one who brooks no rivalry, and far less such rivalry as thine, and her health must over all things be cared for. But she is in the case of being commanded down to yonder Kenilworth revels; and it is most expedientmost needful-most necessary, that she fly not thither. Of these necessities and their causes, it is not needful that she should know aught, and it is to be thought that her own wish may lead her to combat all ordinary reasons which can be urged for her remaining a house-keeper.”

"That is but natural," said the alchemist with a strange smile, which yet bore a greater reference to the human character, than the uninterested and abstracted gaze which his physiognomy had hitherto expressed, where all seemed to refer to some world distant from that which was existing around him.

"It is so," answered Varney; " 66 you understand women well, though it may have been long since you were conversant amongst them.-Well then, she is not to be contradicted-yet she is not to be humoured. Understand me-a slight illness, sufficient to take away the desire of removing from thence, and to make such of your wise

**

fraternity as may be called in to aid, recommend a quiet residence at home, will, in one word, be esteemed good service, and remunerated as such." "I am not to be asked to affect the House of Life ?" said the chemist.

"On the contrary, we will have thee hanged if thou doest," replied Varney.

"And I must," added Alasco, "have opportunity to do my turn, and all facilities for concealment or escape, should there be detection ?"

“All, all, and every thing, thou infidel in all but the impossibilities of alchemy—Why, man, for what dost thou take me

The old man rose, and taking a light, walked towards the end of the apartment, where was a door that led to the small sleeping room destined for his reception during that night.—At the door he turned round, and slowly repeated Varney's question ere he answered it. "For what do I take thee, Richard Varney?-Why, for a worse devil than I have been myself. But I am in your toils, and I must serve you till my term be out.”

"Well, well," answered Varney hastily, "be stirring with grey light. It may be we shall not

need thy medicine-Do nought till I myself come