\"Inhislaboratory，\"answeredFoster。\"Itisthehourheisspokennotwithal。Wemustwaittillnoonispast，orspoilhisimportant——whatsaidI？important！——Iwouldsayinterrupthisdivinestudies。\"
\"Ay，hestudiesthedevil\'sdivinity，\"saidVarney;\"butwhenI
wanthim，onehourmustsufficeaswellasanother。Leadthewaytohispandemonium。\"
SospokeVarney，andwithhastyandperturbedstepsfollowedFoster，whoconductedhimthroughprivatepassages，manyofwhichwerewell—nighruinous，totheoppositesideofthequadrangle，where，inasubterraneanapartment，nowoccupiedbythechemistAlasco，oneoftheAbbotsofAbingdon，whohadaturnfortheoccultsciences，had，muchtothescandalofhisconvent，establishedalaboratory，inwhich，likeotherfoolsoftheperiod，hespentmuchprecioustime，andmoneybesides，inthepursuitofthegrandarcanum。
AnthonyFosterpausedbeforethedoor，whichwasscrupulouslysecuredwithin，andagainshowedamarkedhesitationtodisturbthesageinhisoperations。ButVarney，lessscrupulous，rousedhimbyknockingandvoice，untilatlength，slowlyandreluctantly，theinmateoftheapartmentundidthedoor。Thechemistappeared，withhiseyesblearedwiththeheatandvapoursofthestoveoralembicoverwhichhebroodedandtheinteriorofhiscelldisplayedtheconfusedassemblageofheterogeneoussubstancesandextraordinaryimplementsbelongingtohisprofession。Theoldmanwasmuttering，withspitefulimpatience，\"AmIforevertoberecalledtotheaffairsofearthfromthoseofheaven？\"