andatlastpersuadedhimtobeawitnessoftheirmysteries。Whethertheyplayedoffanyopticaldelusionsuponhim；orwhether，bytheforceofastrongimagination，hedeludedhimself，doesnotappear；

　　butcertainitis，thathebecameacompletetoolintheirhands，andconsentedtodowhatevertheywishedhim。Kelly，attheseinterviews，placedhimselfatacertaindistancefromthewondrouscrystal，andgazedintentlyuponit；whileDeetookhisplaceincorner，readytosetdownthepropheciesastheywereutteredbythespirits。InthismannertheyprophesiedtothePole，thatheshouldbecomethefortunatepossessorofthephilosopher’sstone；thatheshouldliveforcenturies，andbechosenKingofPoland；inwhichcapacityheshouldgainmanygreatvictoriesovertheSaracens，andmakehisnameillustriousoveralltheearth。Forthisposeitwasnecessary，however，thatLaskishouldleaveEngland，andtakethemwithhim，togetherwiththeirwivesandfamilies；thatheshouldtreatthemallsumptuously，andallowthemtowantfornothing。Laskiatonceconsented；andveryshortlyafterwardstheywereallontheroadtoPoland。

　　IttookthemupwardsoffourmonthstoreachtheCount’sestates，intheneighbourhoodofCracow。Inthemeantime，theyledapleasantlife，andspentmoneywithanunsparinghand。WhenonceestablishedintheCount’spalace，theycommencedthegreathermeticoperationoftransmutingironintogold。Laskiprovidedthemwithallnecessarymaterials，andaidedthemhimselfwithhisknowledgeofalchymy:but，somehoworother，theexperimentalwaysfailedattheverymomentthatitoughttohavesucceeded；andtheywereobligedtorecommenceoperationsonagranderscale。ButthehopesofLaskiwerenoteasilyextinguished。Already，inidea，thepossessorofcountlessmillions，hewasnottobecastdownforfearofpresentexpenses。Hethuscontinuedfromdaytoday，andfrommonthtomonth，tillhewas，atlast，obligedtosellaportionofhisdeeply-mortgagedestates，tofindalimentforthehungrycruciblesofDeeandKelly，andthenolesshungrystomachsoftheirwivesandfamilies。Itwasnottillruinstaredhimintheface，thatheawokefromhisdreamofinfatuation——

　　toohappy，eventhen，tofindthathehadescapedutterbeggary。Thusrestoredtohissenses，hisfirstthoughtwashowtoridhimselfofhisexpensivevisiters。Notwishingtoquarrelwiththem，heproposedthattheyshouldproceedtoPrague，wellfurnishedwithlettersofrecommendationtotheEmperorRudolph。OuralchymiststooplainlysawthatnothingmorewastobemadeofthealmostdestituteCountLaski。

　　Withouthesitation，therefore，theyacceptedtheproposal，andsetoutforthwithtotheImperialresidence。Theyhadnodifficulty，ontheirarrivalatPrague，inobtaininganaudienceoftheEmperor。Theyfoundhimwillingenoughtobelievethatsuchathingasthephilosopher’sstoneexisted，andflatteredthemselvesthattheyhadmadeafavourableimpressionuponhim；but，fromsomecauseorother——

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