Allhastenedtowishhimjoyonthemendedappearanceofhisfortune——somefromrealregard，some，perhaps，fromhopesthathisprefermentmighthastentheirown，andmostfromamixtureofthesemotives，andasensethatthecountenanceshowntoanyoneofSussex\'shouseholdwas，infact，atriumphtothewhole。
Raleighreturnedthekindestthankstothemall，disowning，withbecomingmodesty，thatoneday\'sfairreceptionmadeafavourite，anymorethanoneswallowasummer。ButheobservedthatBlountdidnotjoininthegeneralcongratulation，and，somewhathurtathisapparentunkindness，heplainlyaskedhimthereason。
Blountrepliedwithequalsincerity——\"MygoodWalter，Iwishtheeaswellasdoanyofthesechatteringgulls，whoarewhistlingandwhoopinggratulationsinthineearbecauseitseemsfairweatherwiththee。ButIfearforthee，\"Walter\"（andhewipedhishonesteye），\"Ifearfortheewithallmyheart。Thesecourt—tricks，andgambols，andflashesoffinewomen\'sfavourarethetricksandtrinketsthatbringfairfortunestofarthings，andfinefacesandwittycoxcombstotheacquaintanceofdullblockandsharpaxes。\"
Sosaying，Blountaroseandleftthehall，whileRaleighlookedafterhimwithanexpressionthatblankedforamomenthisboldandanimatedcountenance。
Stanleyjustthenenteredthehall，andsaidtoTressilian，\"MylordiscallingforyourfellowWayland，andyourfellowWaylandisjustcomehitherinasculler，andiscallingforyou，norwillhegotomylordtillheseesyou。Thefellowlooksasheweremazed，methinks;Iwouldyouwouldseehimimmediately。\"
Tressilianinstantlyleftthehall，andcausingWaylandSmithtobeshownintoawithdrawingapartment，andlightsplaced，heconductedtheartistthither，andwassurprisedwhenheobservedtheemotionofhiscountenance。
\"Whatisthematterwithyou，Smith？\"saidTressilian;\"haveyouseenthedevil？\"
\"Worse，sir，worse，\"repliedWayland;\"Ihaveseenabasilisk。
ThankGod，Isawhimfirst;forbeingsoseen，andseeingnotme，hewilldothelessharm。\"
\"InGod\'sname，speaksense，\"saidTressilian，\"andsaywhatyoumean。\"
\"Ihaveseenmyoldmaster，\"saidtheartist。\"LastnightafriendwhomIhadacquiredtookmetoseethePalaceclock，judgingmetobecuriousinsuchworksofart。Atthewindowofaturretnexttotheclock—houseIsawmyoldmaster。\"
\"Thoumustneedshavebeenmistaken，\"saidTressilian。
\"Iwasnotmistaken，\"saidWayland;\"hethatoncehathhisfeaturesbyheartwouldknowhimamongstamillion。Hewasanticlyhabited;buthecannotdisguisehimselffromme，Godbepraised！asIcanfromhim。Iwillnot，however，temptProvidencebyremainingwithinhisken。Tarletontheplayerhimselfcouldnotsodisguisehimselfbutthat，soonerorlater，Doboobiewouldfindhimout。Imustawayto—morrow;for，aswestandtogether，itweredeathtometoremainwithinreachofhim。\"
\"ButtheEarlofSussex？\"saidTressilian。
\"Heisinlittledangerfromwhathehashithertotaken，providedheswallowthematterofabean\'ssizeoftheorvietaneverymorningfasting;butlethimbewareofarelapse。\"
\"Andhowisthattobeguardedagainst？\"saidTressilian。
\"Onlybysuchcautionasyouwoulduseagainstthedevil，\"
answeredWayland。\"Letmylord\'sclerkofthekitchenkillhislord\'smeathimself，anddressithimself，usingnospicebutwhatheprocuresfromthesuresthands。Letthesewerserveituphimself，andletthemasterofmylord\'shouseholdseethatbothclerkandsewertastethedisheswhichtheonedressesandtheotherserves。Letmylordusenoperfumeswhichcomenotfromwellaccreditedpersons;nounguents——nopomades。Lethim，onnoaccount，drinkwithstrangers，oreatfruitwiththem，eitherinthewayofnooningorotherwise。Especially，lethimobservesuchcautionifhegoestoKenilworth——theexcuseofhisillness，andhisbeingunderdiet，will，andmust，coverthestrangenessofsuchpractice。\"
\"Andthou，\"saidTressilian，\"whatdostthouthinktomakeofthyself？\"
\"France，Spain，eitherIndia，EastorWest，shallbemyrefuge，\"
saidWayland，\"ereIventuremylifebyresidingwithinkenofDoboobie，Demetrius，orwhateverelsehecallshimselfforthetime。\"
\"Well，\"saidTressilian，\"thishappensnotinopportunely。IhadbusinessforyouinBerkshire，butintheoppositeextremitytotheplacewherethouartknown;anderethouhadstfoundoutthisnewreasonforlivingprivate，Ihadsettledtosendtheethitheruponasecretembassage。\"
Theartistexpressedhimselfwillingtoreceivehiscommands，andTressilian，knowinghewaswellacquaintedwiththeoutlineofhisbusinessatcourt，franklyexplainedtohimthewhole，mentionedtheagreementwhichsubsistedbetwixtGilesGoslingandhim，andtoldwhathadthatdaybeenaverredinthepresence—
chamberbyVarney，andsupportedbyLeicester。
\"Thouseest，\"headded，\"that，inthecircumstancesinwhichIamplaced，itbehovesmetokeepanarrowwatchonthemotionsoftheseunprincipledmen，Varneyandhiscomplices，FosterandLambourne，aswellasonthoseofmyLordLeicesterhimself，who，Isuspect，ispartlyadeceiver，andnotaltogetherthedeceivedinthatmatter。Hereismyring，asapledgetoGilesGosling。
Hereisbesidesgold，whichshallbetrebledifthouservemefaithfully。AwaydowntoCumnor，andseewhathappensthere。\"
\"Igowithdoublegood—will，\"saidtheartist，\"first，becauseI
serveyourhonour，whohasbeensokindtome;andthen，thatI
mayescapemyoldmaster，who，ifnotanabsoluteincarnationofthedevil，has，atleast，asmuchofthedemonabouthim，inwill，word，andaction;aseverpollutedhumanity。Andyetlethimtakecareofme。Iflyhimnow，asheretofore;butif，liketheScottishwildcattle，Iamvexedbyfrequentpursuit，Imayturnonhiminhateanddesperation。[AremnantofthewildcattleofScotlandarepreservedatChillinghamCastle，nearWooler，inNorthumberland，theseatofLordTankerville。Theyflybeforestrangers;butifdisturbedandfollowed，theyturnwithfuryonthosewhopersistinannoyingthem。]Willyourhonourcommandmynagtobesaddled？Iwillbutgivethemedicinetomylord，dividedinitsproperproportions，withafewinstructions。Hissafetywillthendependonthecareofhisfriendsanddomestics;forthepastheisguarded，butlethimbewareofthefuture。\"
WaylandSmithaccordinglymadehisfarewellvisittotheEarlofSussex，dictatedinstructionsastohisregimen，andprecautionsconcerninghisdiet，andleftSayesCourtwithoutwaitingformorning。
CHAPTERXVIII。
Themomentcomes——
Itisalreadycome——whenthoumustwriteTheabsolutetotalofthylife\'svastsum。
Theconstellationsstandvictoriouso\'erthee，Theplanetsshootgoodfortuneinfairjunctions，Andtellthee，\"Now\'sthetime。\"
SCHILLER\'SWALLENSTEIN，BYCOLERIDGE。
WhenLeicesterreturnedtohislodging，alteradaysoimportantandsoharassing，inwhich，afterridingoutmorethanonegale，andtouchingonmorethanoneshoal，hisbarkhadfinallygainedtheharbourwithbannerdisplayed，heseemedtoexperienceasmuchfatigueasamarinerafteraperilousstorm。Hespokenotawordwhilehischamberlainexchangedhisrichcourt—mantleforafurrednight—robe，andwhenthisofficersignifiedthatMasterVarneydesiredtospeakwithhislordship，herepliedonlybyasullennod。Varney，however，entered，acceptingthissignalasapermission，andthechamberlainwithdrew。
TheEarlremainedsilentandalmostmotionlessinhischair，hisheadreclinedonhishand，andhiselbowrestinguponthetablewhichstoodbesidehim，withoutseemingtobeconsciousoftheentranceorofthepresenceofhisconfidant。Varneywaitedforsomeminutesuntilheshouldspeak，desiroustoknowwhatwasthefinallypredominantmoodofamindthroughwhichsomanypowerfulemotionshadthatdaytakentheircourse。Buthewaitedinvain，forLeicestercontinuedstillsilent，andtheconfidantsawhimselfunderthenecessityofbeingthefirsttospeak。\"MayI
congratulateyourlordship，\"hesaid，\"onthedeservedsuperiorityyouhavethisdayattainedoveryourmostformidablerival？\"
Leicesterraisedhishead，andansweredsadly，butwithoutanger，\"Thou，Varney，whosereadyinventionhasinvolvedmeinawebofmostmeanandperilousfalsehood，knowestbestwhatsmallreasonthereisforgratulationonthesubject。\"
\"Doyoublameme，mylord，\"saidVarney，\"fornotbetraying，onthefirstpush，thesecretonwhichyourfortunesdepended，andwhichyouhavesooftandsoearnestlyrecommendedtomysafekeeping？Yourlordshipwaspresentinperson，andmighthavecontradictedmeandruinedyourselfbyanavowalofthetruth;
butsurelyitwasnopartofafaithfulservanttohavedonesowithoutyourcommands。\"
\"Icannotdenyit，Varney，\"saidtheEarl，risingandwalkingacrosstheroom;\"myownambitionhasbeentraitortomylove。\"
\"Sayrather，mylord，thatyourlovehasbeentraitortoyourgreatness，andbarredyoufromsuchaprospectofhonourandpowerastheworldcannotoffertoanyother。Tomakemyhonouredladyacountess，youhavemissedthechanceofbeingyourself——\"
Hepaused，andseemedunwillingtocompletethesentence。
\"Ofbeingmyselfwhat？\"demandedLeicester;\"speakoutthymeaning，Varney。\"
\"OfbeingyourselfaKING，mylord，\"repliedVarney;\"andKingofEnglandtoboot！ItisnotreasontoourQueentosayso。Itwouldhavechancedbyherobtainingthatwhichalltruesubjectswishher——alusty，noble，andgallanthusband。\"
\"Thouravest，Varney，\"answeredLeicester。\"Besides，ourtimeshaveseenenoughtomakemenloathetheCrownMatrimonialwhichmentakefromtheirwives\'lap。TherewasDarnleyofScotland。\"
\"He！\"saidVarney;\"a，gull，afool，athrice—soddenass，whosufferedhimselftobefiredoffintotheairlikearocketonarejoicingday。HadMaryhadthehaptohaveweddedthenobleEarlONCEdestinedtoshareherthrone，shehadexperiencedahusbandofdifferentmetal;andherhusbandhadfoundinherawifeascomplyingandlovingasthemateofthemeanestsquirewhofollowsthehoundsa—horseback，andholdsherhusband\'sbridleashemounts。\"
\"Itmighthavebeenasthousayest，Varney，\"saidLeicester，abriefsmileofself—satisfactionpassingoverhisanxiouscountenance。\"HenryDarnleyknewlittleofwomen——withMary，amanwhoknewhersexmighthavehadsomechanceofholdinghisown。ButnotwithElizabeth，VarneyforIthankGod，whenhegavehertheheartofawoman，gavehertheheadofamantocontrolitsfollies。No，Iknowher。Shewillacceptlove—
tokens，ay，andrequitethemwiththelike——putsugaredsonnetsinherbosom，ay，andanswerthemtoo——pushgallantrytotheveryvergewhereitbecomesexchangeofaffection;butshewritesNIL
ULTRAtoallwhichistofollow，andwouldnotbarteroneiotaofherownsupremepowerforallthealphabetofbothCupidandHymen。\"
\"Thebetterforyou，mylord，\"saidVarney——\"thatis，inthecasesupposed，ifsuchbeherdisposition;sinceyouthinkyoucannotaspiretobecomeherhusband。Herfavouriteyouare，andmayremain，iftheladyatCumnorplacecontinuesinherpresentobscurity。\"
\"PoorAmy！\"saidLeicester，withadeepsigh;\"shedesiressoearnestlytobeacknowledgedinpresenceofGodandman！\"
\"Ay，but，mylord，\"saidVarney，\"isherdesirereasonable？Thatisthequestion。Herreligiousscruplesaresolved;sheisanhonouredandbelovedwife，enjoyingthesocietyofherhusbandatsuchtimesashisweightierdutiespermithimtoaffordherhiscompany。Whatwouldshemore？Iamrightsurethataladysogentleandsolovingwouldconsenttoliveherlifethroughinacertainobscurity——whichis，afterall，notdimmerthanwhenshewasatLidcoteHall——ratherthandiminishtheleastjotofherlord\'shonoursandgreatnessbyaprematureattempttosharethem。\"
\"Thereissomethinginwhatthousayest，\"saidLeicester，\"andherappearanceherewerefatal。YetshemustbeseenatKenilworth;Elizabethwillnotforgetthatshehassoappointed。\"
\"Letmesleeponthathardpoint，\"saidVarney;\"IcannotelseperfectthedeviceIhaveonthestithy，whichItrustwillsatisfytheQueenandpleasemyhonouredlady，yetleavethisfatalsecretwhereitisnowburied。Hasyourlordshipfurthercommandsforthenight？\"
\"Iwouldbealone，\"saidLeicester。\"Leaveme，andplacemysteelcasketonthetable。Bewithinsummons。\"
Varneyretired，andtheEarl，openingthewindowofhisapartment，lookedoutlongandanxiouslyuponthebrillianthostofstarswhichglimmeredinthesplendourofasummerfirmament。
Thewordsburstfromhimasatunawares，\"Ihadnevermoreneedthattheheavenlybodiesshouldbefriendme，formyearthlypathisdarkenedandconfused。\"
Itiswellknownthattheagereposedadeepconfidenceinthevainpredictionsofjudicialastrology，andLeicester，thoughexemptfromthegeneralcontrolofsuperstition，wasnotinthisrespectsuperiortohistime，but，onthecontrary，wasremarkablefortheencouragementwhichhegavetotheprofessorsofthispretendedscience。Indeed，thewishtopryintofuturity，sogeneralamongthehumanrace，ispeculiarlytobefoundamongstthosewhotradeinstatemysteriesandthedangerousintriguesandcabalsofcourts。Withheedfulprecautiontoseethatithadnotbeenopened，oritslockstamperedwith，Leicesterappliedakeytothesteelcasket，anddrewfromit，first，aparcelofgoldpieces，whichheputintoasilkpurse;thenaparchmentinscribedwithplanetarysigns，andthelinesandcalculationsusedinframinghoroscopes，onwhichhegazedintentlyforafewmoments;and，lastly，tookforthalargekey，which，liftingasidethetapestry，heappliedtoalittle，concealeddoorinthecorneroftheapartment，andopeningit，disclosedastairconstructedinthethicknessofthewall。
\"Alasco，\"saidtheEarl，withavoiceraised，yetnohigherraisedthantobeheardbytheinhabitantofthesmallturrettowhichthestairconducted——\"Alasco，Isay，descend。\"
\"Icome，mylord，\"answeredavoicefromabove。Thefootofanagedmanwasheardslowlydescendingthenarrowstair，andAlascoenteredtheEarl\'sapartment。Theastrologerwasalittleman，andseemedmuchadvancedinage，forhisheardwaslongandwhite，andreachedoverhisblackdoubletdowntohissilkengirdle。Hishairwasofthesamevenerablehue。Buthiseyebrowswereasdarkasthekeenandpiercingblackeyeswhichtheyshaded，andthispeculiaritygaveawildandsingularcasttothephysiognomyoftheoldman。Hischeekwasstillfreshandruddy，andtheeyeswehavementionedresembledthoseofaratinacutenessandevenfiercenessofexpression。Hismannerwasnotwithoutasortofdignity;andtheinterpreterofthestars，thoughrespectful，seemedaltogetherathisease，andevenassumedatoneofinstructionandcommandinconversingwiththeprimefavouriteofElizabeth。
\"Yourprognosticationshavefailed，Alasco，\"saidtheEarl，whentheyhadexchangedsalutations——\"heisrecovering。\"
\"Myson，\"repliedtheastrologer，\"letmeremindyouIwarrantednothisdeath;noristhereanyprognosticationthatcanbederivedfromtheheavenlybodies，theiraspectsandtheirconjunctions，whichisnotliabletobecontrolledbythewillofHeaven。ASTRAREGUNTHOMINES，SEDREGITASTRADEUS。\"
\"Ofwhatavail，then，isyourmystery？\"inquiredtheEarl。
\"Ofmuch，myson，\"repliedtheoldman，\"sinceitcanshowthenaturalandprobablecourseofevents，althoughthatcoursemovesinsubordinationtoanHigherPower。Thus，inreviewingthehoroscopewhichyourLordshipsubjectedtomyskill，youwillobservethatSaturn，beinginthesixthHouseinoppositiontoMars，retrogradeintheHouseofLife，cannotbutdenotelonganddangeroussickness，theissuewhereofisinthewillofHeaven，thoughdeathmayprobablybeinferred。YetifIknewthenameofthepartyIwoulderectanotherscheme。\"
\"Hisnameisasecret，\"saidtheEarl;\"yet，Imustown，thyprognosticationhathnotbeenunfaithful。Hehasbeensick，anddangerouslyso，not，however，todeath。ButhastthouagaincastmyhoroscopeasVarneydirectedthee，andartthoupreparedtosaywhatthestarstellofmypresentfortune？\"
\"Myartstandsatyourcommand，\"saidtheoldman;\"andhere，myson，isthemapofthyfortunes，brilliantinaspectaseverbeamedfromthoseblessedsignswherebyourlifeisinfluenced，yetnotunchequeredwithfears，difficulties，anddangers。\"
\"Mylotweremorethanmortalwereitotherwise，\"saidtheEarl。
\"Proceed，father，andbelieveyouspeakwithonereadytoundergohisdestinyinactionandinpassionasmaybeseemanobleofEngland。\"
\"Thycouragetodoandtosuffermustbewoundupyetastrainhigher，\"saidtheoldman。\"Thestarsintimateyetaproudertitle，yetanhigherrank。Itisfortheetoguesstheirmeaning，notformetonameit。\"
\"Nameit，Iconjureyou——nameit，Icommandyou！\"saidtheEarl，hiseyesbrighteningashespoke。
\"Imaynot，andIwillnot，\"repliedtheoldman。\"TheireofprincesIsasthewrathofthelion。Butmark，andjudgeforthyself。HereVenus，ascendantintheHouseofLife，andconjoinedwithSol，showersdownthatfloodofsilverlight，blentwithgold，whichpromisespower，wealth，dignity，allthattheproudheartofmandesires，andinsuchabundancethatneverthefutureAugustusofthatoldandmightyRomeheardfromhisHARUSPICESsuchataleofglory，asfromthisrichtextmyloremightreadtomyfavouriteson。\"
\"Thoudostbutjestwithme，father，\"saidtheEarl，astonishedatthestrainofenthusiasminwhichtheastrologerdeliveredhisprediction。
\"Isitforhimtojestwhohathhiseyeonheaven，whohathhisfootinthegrave？\"returnedtheoldmansolemnly。
TheEarlmadetwoorthreestridesthroughtheapartment，withhishandoutstretched，asonewhofollowsthebeckoningsignalofsomephantom，wavinghimontodeedsofhighimport。Asheturned，however，hecaughttheeyeoftheastrologerfixedonhim，whileanobservingglanceofthemostshrewdpenetrationshotfromunderthepenthouseofhisshaggy，darkeyebrows。
Leicester\'shaughtyandsuspicioussoulatoncecaughtfire。Hedartedtowardstheoldmanfromthefartherendoftheloftyapartment，onlystandingstillwhenhisextendedhandwaswithinafootoftheastrologer\'sbody。
\"Wretch！\"hesaid，\"ifyoudaretopalterwithme，Iwillhaveyourskinstrippedfromyourlivingflesh！Confessthouhastbeenhiredtodeceiveandtobetrayme——thatthouartacheat，andIthysillypreyandbooty！\"
Theoldmanexhibitedsomesymptomsofemotion，butnotmorethanthefuriousdeportmentofhispatronmighthaveextortedfrominnocenceitself。
\"Whatmeansthisviolence，mylord？\"heanswered，\"orinwhatcanIhavedeserveditatyourhand？\"
\"Givemeproof，\"saidtheEarlvehemently，\"thatyouhavenottamperedwithmineenemies。\"
\"Mylord，\"repliedtheoldman，withdignity，\"youcanhavenobetterproofthanthatwhichyouyourselfelected。InthatturretIhavespentthelasttwenty—fourhoursunderthekeywhichhasbeeninyourowncustody。ThehoursofdarknessIhavespentingazingontheheavenlybodieswiththesedimeyes，andduringthoseoflightIhavetoiledthisagedbraintocompletethecalculationarisingfromtheircombinations。EarthlyfoodI
havenottasted——earthlyvoiceIhavenotheard。YouareyourselfawareIhadnomeansofdoingso;andyetItellyou——I
whohavebeenthusshutupinsolitudeandstudy——thatwithinthesetwenty—fourhoursyourstarhasbecomepredominantinthehorizon，andeitherthebrightbookofheavenspeaksfalse，ortheremusthavebeenaproportionaterevolutioninyourfortunesuponearth。Ifnothinghashappenedwithinthatspacetosecureyourpower，oradvanceyourfavour，thenamIindeedacheat，andthedivineart，whichwasfirstdevisedintheplainsofChaldea，isafoulimposture。\"
\"Itistrue，\"saidLeicester，afteramoment\'sreflection，\"thouwertcloselyimmured;anditisalsotruethatthechangehastakenplaceinmysituationwhichthousayestthehoroscopeindicates。\"
\"Whereforethisdistrustthen，myson？\"saidtheastrologer，assumingatoneofadmonition;\"thecelestialintelligencesbrooknotdiffidence，evenintheirfavourites。\"
\"Peace，father，\"answeredLeicester，\"Ihaveerredindoubtingthee。Nottomortalman，nortocelestialintelligence——underthatwhichissupreme——willDudley\'slipssaymoreincondescensionorapology。Speakrathertothepresentpurpose。
Amidthesebrightpromisesthouhastsaidtherewasathreateningaspect。Canthyskilltellwhence，orbywhosemeans，suchdangerseemstoimpend？\"
\"Thusfaronly，\"answeredtheastrologer，\"doesmyartenablemetoansweryourquery。Theinfortuneisthreatenedbythemalignantandadverseaspect，throughmeansofayouth，and，asI
think，arival;butwhetherinloveorinprince\'sfavour，IknownotnorcanIgivefurtherindicationrespectinghim，savethathecomesfromthewesternquarter。\"
\"Thewestern——ha！\"repliedLeicester，\"itisenough——thetempestdoesindeedbrewinthatquarter！CornwallandDevon——RaleighandTressilian——oneofthemisindicated—Imustbewareofboth。
Father，ifIhavedonethyskillinjustice，Iwillmaketheealordlyrecompense。\"
Hetookapurseofgoldfromthestrongcasketwhichstoodbeforehim。\"HavethoudoubletherecompensewhichVarneypromised。Befaithful——besecret——obeythedirectionsthoushaltreceivefrommymasterofthehorse，andgrudgenotalittleseclusionorrestraintinmycause——itshallberichlyconsidered。——Here，Varney——conductthisvenerablemantothineownlodging;tendhimheedfullyinallthings，butseethatheholdscommunicationwithnoone。
Varneybowed，andtheastrologerkissedtheEarl\'shandintokenofadieu，andfollowedthemasterofthehorsetoanotherapartment，inwhichwereplacedwineandrefreshmentsforhisuse。
Theastrologersatdowntohisrepast，whileVarneyshuttwodoorswithgreatprecaution，examinedthetapestry，lestanylistenerlurkedbehindit，andthensittingdownoppositetothesage，begantoquestionhim。
\"Sawyoumysignalfromthecourtbeneath？\"
\"Idid，\"saidAlasco，forbysuchnamehewasatpresentcalled，\"andshapedthehoroscopeaccordingly。\"
\"Anditpasseduponthepatronwithoutchallenge？\"continuedVarney。
\"Notwithoutchallenge，\"repliedtheoldman，\"butitdidpass;
andIadded，asbeforeagreed，dangerfromadiscoveredsecret，andawesternyouth。\"
\"Mylord\'sfearwillstandsponsortotheone，andhisconsciencetotheother，oftheseprognostications，\"repliedVarney。\"Surenevermanchosetorunsucharaceashis，yetcontinuedtoretainthosesillyscruples！Iamfaintocheathimtohisownprofit。Buttouchingyourmatters，sageinterpreterofthestars，Icantellyoumoreofyourownfortunethanplanorfigurecanshow。Youmustbegonefromhenceforthwith。\"
\"Iwillnot，\"saidAlascopeevishly。\"Ihavebeentoomuchhurriedupanddownoflate——immuredfordayandnightinadesolateturret—chamber。Imustenjoymyliberty，andpursuemystudies，whichareofmoreimportthanthefateoffiftystatesmenandfavouritesthatriseandburstlikebubblesintheatmosphereofacourt。\"
\"Atyourpleasure，\"saidVarney，withasneerthathabithadrenderedfamiliartohisfeatures，andwhichformstheprincipalcharacteristicwhichpaintershaveassignedtothatofSatan——\"atyourpleasure，\"hesaid;\"youmayenjoyyourlibertyandyourstudiesuntilthedaggersofSussex\'sfollowersareclashingwithinyourdoubletandagainstyourribs。\"Theoldmanturnedpale，andVarneyproceeded。\"Wotyounothehathofferedarewardforthearch—quackandpoison—vender，Demetrius，whosoldcertainpreciousspicestohislordship\'scook？What！turnyoupale，oldfriend？DoesHalialreadyseeaninfortuneintheHouseofLife？Why，harkthee，wewillhavetheedowntoanoldhouseofmineinthecountry，wherethoushaltlivewithahobnailedslave，whomthyalchemymayconvertintoducats，fortosuchconversionaloneisthyartserviceable。\"
\"Itisfalse，thoufoul—mouthedrailer，\"saidAlasco，shakingwithimpotentanger;\"itiswellknownthatIhaveapproachedmorenearlytoprojectionthananyhermeticartistwhonowlives。
Therearenotsixchemistsintheworldwhopossesssonearanapproximationtothegrandarcanum——\"
\"Come，come，\"saidVarney，interruptinghim，\"whatmeansthis，inthenameofHeaven？Dowenotknowoneanother？Ibelievetheetobesoperfect——soveryperfect——inthemysteryofcheating，that，havingimposeduponallmankind，thouhastatlengthinsomemeasureimposeduponthyself，andwithoutceasingtodupeothers，hastbecomeaspeciesofdupetothineownimagination。
Blushnotforit，man——thouartlearned，andshalthaveclassicalcomfort:
\'NequisquamAjacempossitsuperarenisiAjax。\'
Noonebutthyselfcouldhavegulledthee;andthouhastgulledthewholebrotherhoodoftheRosyCrossbesides——nonesodeepinthemysteryasthou。Butharktheeinthineear:hadtheseasoningwhichspicedSussex\'sbrothwroughtmoresurely，I
wouldhavethoughtbetterofthechemicalsciencethoudostboastsohighly。\"
\"Thouartanhardenedvillain，Varney，\"repliedAlasco;\"manywilldothosethingswhodarenotspeakofthem。\"
\"Andmanyspeakofthemwhodarenotdothem，\"answeredVarney。
\"Butbenotwroth——Iwillnotquarrelwiththee。IfIdid，I
werefaintoliveoneggsforamonth，thatImightfeedwithoutfear。Tellmeatonce，howcamethinearttofailtheeatthisgreatemergency？\"
\"TheEarlofSussex\'shoroscopeintimates，\"repliedtheastrologer，\"thatthesignoftheascendantbeingincombustion——\"
\"Awaywithyourgibberish，\"repliedVarney;\"thinkestthouitisthepatronthouspeakestwith？\"
\"Icraveyourpardon，\"repliedtheoldman，\"andsweartoyouI
knowbutonemedicinethatcouldhavesavedtheEarl\'slife;andasnomanlivinginEnglandknowsthatantidotesavemyself——
moreover，astheingredients，oneoftheminparticular，arescarcepossibletobecomeby，Imustneedssupposehisescapewasowingtosuchaconstitutionoflungsandvitalpartsaswasneverbeforeboundupinabodyofclay。\"
\"Therewassometalkofaquackwhowaitedonhim，\"saidVarney，afteramoment\'sreflection。\"AreyousurethereisnooneinEnglandwhohasthissecretofthine？\"
\"Onemantherewas，\"saidthedoctor，\"oncemyservant，whomighthavestolenthisofme，withoneortwoothersecretsofart。
Butcontentyou，MasterVarney，itisnopartofmypolicytosuffersuchinterloperstointerfereinmytrade。Hepriesintonomysteriesmore，Iwarrantyou，for，asIwellbelieve，hehathbeenwaftedtoheavenonthewingofafierydragon——peacebewithhim！ButinthisretreatofmineshallIhavetheuseofmineelaboratory？\"
\"Ofawholeworkshop，man，\"saidVarney;\"forareverendfatherabbot，whowasfaintogiveplacetobluffKingHalandsomeofhiscourtiers，ascoreofyearssince，hadachemist\'scompleteapparatus，whichhewasobligedtoleavebehindhimtohissuccessors。Thoushaltthereoccupy，andmelt，andpuff，andblaze，andmultiply，untiltheGreenDragonbecomeagoldengoose，orwhateverthenewerphraseofthebrotherhoodmaytestify。\"