Heexhaustedinthismannerthepatienceofsomedozenofpeople，when，thinkingthattherewaslessdangerforhiminFrance，undertheyoungkingLouisXV，thanunderhisoldandmorosepredecessor，hereturnedtoProvence。OnhisarrivalatAix，hepresentedhimselfbeforeM。leBret，thePresidentoftheprovince，agentlemanwhowasmuchattachedtothepursuitsofalchymy，andhadgreathopesofbeinghimselfabletofindthephilosopher’sstone。M。leBret，contrarytohisexpectation，receivedhimverycoolly，inconsequenceofsomerumoursthatwerespreadabroadrespectinghim；andtoldhimtocalluponhimonthemorrow。Aluysdidnotlikethetoneofthevoice，ortheexpressionoftheeyeofthelearnedPresident，asthatfunctionarylookeddownuponhim。Suspectingthatallwasnotright，heleftAixsecretlythesameevening，andproceededtoMarseilles。
Butthepolicewereonthewatchforhim；andhehadnotbeentherefour-and-twentyhours，beforehewasarrestedonachargeofcoining，andthrownintoprison。
Astheproofsagainsthimweretooconvincingtoleavehimmuchhopeofanacquittal，heplannedanescapefromdurance。Itsohappenedthatthegaolerhadaprettydaughter，andAluyssoondiscoveredthatshewastender-hearted。Hedeavouredtogainherinhisfavour，andsucceeded。Thedamsel，unawarethathewasamarriedman，conceivedandencouragedapassionforhim，andgenerouslyprovidedhimwiththemeansofescape。Afterhehadbeennearlyayearinprisonhesucceededingettingfree，leavingthepoorgirlbehind，tolearnthatbewasalreadymarried，andtolamentinsolitudethatshehadgivenherhearttoanungratefulvagabond。
WhenheleftMarseilles，hehadnotashoetohisfoot，oradecentgarmenttohisback，butwasprovidedwithsomemoneyandclothesbyhiswifeinaneighbouringtown。TheythenfoundtheirwaytoBrussels，andbydintofexcessiveimpudence，broughtthemselvesintonotice。Hetookahouse，fittedupasplendidlaboratory，andgaveoutthatheknewthesecretoftransmutation。InvaindidM。
Percel，thebrother-in-lawofLengletduFresnoy，whoresidedinthatcity，exposehispretensions，andholdhimuptocontemptasanignorantimpostor:theworldbelievedhimnot。Theytookthealchymistathisword，andbesiegedhisdoors，toseeandwonderatthecleverlegerdemainbywhichheturnedironnailsintogoldandsilver。Arichgreffierpaidhimalargesumofmoneythathemightbeinstructedintheart，andAluysgavehimseverallessonsonthemostcommonprinciplesofchemistry。Thegreffierstudiedhardforatwelvemonth，andthendiscoveredthathismasterwasaquack。Hedemandedhismoneybackagain；butAluyswasnotinclinedtogiveithim，andtheaffairwasbroughtbeforetheciviltribunaloftheprovince。Inthemeantime，however，thegreffierdiedsuddenly；poisoned，accordingtothepopularrumour，byhisdebtor，toavoidrepayment。Sogreatanoutcryaroseinthecity，thatAluys，whomayhavebeeninnocentofthecrime，wasneverthelessafraidtoremainandbraveit。Hewithdrewsecretlyinthenight，andretiredtoParis。Herealltraceofhimislost。Hewasneverheardofagain；butLengletduFresnoyconjectures，thatheendedhisdaysinsomeobscuredungeon，intowhichhewascastforcoining，orothermalpracticcs。