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nature has unveiled her darkest secrets； if I have acquired the
most secret signs and passwords of the Jewish Cabala； so that the
greyest beard in the synagogue would brush the steps to make them
clean for me；if all this is so； and if there remains but one
stepone little stepbetwixt my long； deep； and dark； and
subterranean progress； and that blaze of light which shall show
Nature watching her richest and her most glorious productions in
the very cradleone step betwixt dependence and the power of
sovereigntyone step betwixt poverty and such a sum of wealth as
earth； without that noble secret； cannot minister from all her
mines in the old or the new…found world； if this be all so； is it
not reasonable that to this I dedicate my future life； secure；
for a brief period of studious patience； to rise above the mean
dependence upon favourites； and THEIR favourites； by which I am
now enthralled！〃
〃Now； bravo！ bravo！ my good father；〃 said Varney； with the
usual sardonic expression of ridicule on his countenance； 〃yet
all this approximation to the philosopher's stone wringeth not
one single crown out of my Lord Leicester's pouch； and far less
out of Richard Varney's。 WE must have earthly and substantial
services； man； and care not whom else thou canst delude with thy
philosophical charlatanry。〃
〃My son Varney；〃 said the alchemist； 〃the unbelief； gathered
around thee like a frost…fog； hath dimmed thine acute perception
to that which is a stumbling…block to the wise； and which yet； to
him who seeketh knowledge with humility； extends a lesson so
clear that he who runs may read。 Hath not Art； thinkest thou；
the means of completing Nature's imperfect concoctions in her
attempts 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； all which； 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。 The first task must be to prepare some
when thou gett'st down to my little sequestered retreat yonder；
and then make as much gold as thou wilt。〃
〃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
father； 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 lifetime 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 ultimately dangerous to the human frame；
but which produces depression of spirits； nausea； headache； an
unwillingness to change of placeeven 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。
〃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 keepest 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？〃
〃No； thou fool；〃 replied Varney； 〃said I not it was a birda
reclaimed linnet； whose pipe might soothe 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 itTHAT； 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
needfulmost 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 housekeeper。〃
〃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； 〃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 mea 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 dost；〃 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 everything； 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 the 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 medicinedo nought till
I myself come down。 Michael Lambourne shall guide you to the
place of your destination。〃 ＇See Note 7。 Dr。 Julio。＇
When Varney heard the adept's door shut and carefully bolted
within； he stepped towards it； and with similar precaution
carefully locked it on the outside； and took the key from the
lock； muttering to himself； 〃Worse than THEE； thou poisoning
quacksalver and witch…monger； who； if thou art not a bounden
slave to the devil； it is only because he disdains such an
apprentice！ I am a mortal man； and seek by mortal means the
gratification of my passions and advancement of my prospects；
thou art a vassal of hell itselfSo ho； Lambourne！〃 he called
at another door； and Michael made his appearance with a flushed
cheek and an unsteady step。
〃Thou art drunk； thou villain！〃 said Varney to him。
〃Doubtless； noble sir；〃 replied the unabashed Michael； 〃We have
been drinking all even to the glories of the day； and to my noble
Lord of Leicester and his valiant master of the horse。 Drunk！
odds blades and poniards； he that would refuse to swallow a dozen
healths on such an evening is a base besognio； and a puckfoist；
and shall swallow six inches of my dagger！〃
〃Hark ye； scoundrel；〃 said Varney； 〃be sober on the instantI
command thee。 I know thou canst throw off thy drunken folly；
like a fool's coat； at pleasure； and if not； it were the worse
for thee。〃
Lambourne drooped his head； left the apartment； and returned in
two or three minutes with his face composed； his hair adjusted；
his dress in order； and exhibiting as great a difference from his
former self as if the whole man had been changed。
〃Art thou sober now； and dost thou comprehend me？〃 said Varney
sternly。
Lambourne bowed in acquiescence。
〃Thou must presently down to Cumnor Place with the reverend man
of art who sleeps yonder in the little vaulted chamber。 Here is
the key； that thou mayest call him by times。 Take another trusty
fellow with you。 Use him well on the jou