\"That，\"saidthesmith，\"istheveryprinciplethatmyworthyfriendandmaster，DoctorDoboobie，alwaysactedupon;until，beingbesottedwithhisownimaginations，andconceitedofhishighchemicalskill，hebegantospend，incheatinghimself，themoneywhichhehadacquiredincheatingothers，andeitherdiscoveredorbuiltforhimself，Icouldneverknowwhich，thissecretelaboratory，inwhichheusedtosecludehimselfbothfrompatientsanddisciples，whodoubtlessthoughthislongandmysteriousabsencesfromhisordinaryresidenceinthetownofFarringdonwereoccasionedbyhisprogressinthemysticsciences，andhisintercoursewiththeinvisibleworld。Mealsohetriedtodeceive;butthoughIcontradictedhimnot，hesawthatIknewtoomuchofhissecretstobeanylongerasafecompanion。Meanwhile，hisnamewaxedfamous——orratherinfamous，andmanyofthosewhoresortedtohimdidsounderpersuasionthathewasasorcerer。Andyethissupposedadvanceintheoccultsciencesdrewtohimthesecretresortofmentoopowerfultobenamed，forpurposestoodangeroustobementioned。Mencursedandthreatenedhim，andbestowedonme，theinnocentassistantofhisstudies，thenicknameoftheDevil\'sfoot—post，whichprocuredmeavolleyofstonesassoonaseverIventuredtoshowmyfaceinthestreetofthevillage。Atlengthmymastersuddenlydisappeared，pretendingtomethathewasabouttovisithiselaboratoryinthisplace，andforbiddingmetodisturbhimtilltwodayswerepast。Whenthisperiodhadelapsed，Ibecameanxious，andresortedtothisvault，whereI
foundthefiresextinguishedandtheutensilsinconfusion，withanotefromthelearnedDoboobius，ashewaswonttostylehimself，acquaintingmethatweshouldnevermeetagain，bequeathingmehischemicalapparatus，andtheparchmentwhichI
havejustputintoyourhands，advisingmestronglytoprosecutethesecretwhichitcontained，whichwouldinfalliblyleadmetothediscoveryofthegrandmagisterium。\"
\"Anddidstthoufollowthissageadvice？\"saidTressilian。
\"Worshipfulsir，no，\"repliedthesmith;\"for，beingbynaturecautious，andsuspiciousfromknowingwithwhomIhadtodo，I