volley of stones as soon as ever I
ventured to show my face in the street of the village. At length, my master
suddenly disappeared, pretending to me that he was about to visit his
elaboratory in this place, and forbidding me to disturb him till two days were
past. When this period had elapsed, I became anxious, and resorted to this
vault, where I found the fires extinguished and the utensils in confusion, with
a note from the learned Doboobius, as he was wont to style himself, acquainting
me that we should never meet again, bequeathing me his chemical apparatus and
the parchment which I have just put into your hands, advising me strongly to
prosecute the secret which it contained, which would infallibly lead me to the
discovery of the grand magisterium.«
    »And didst thou follow this sage advice?« said Tressilian.
    »Worshipful sir, no,« replied the smith; »for being by nature cautious and
suspicious, from knowing with whom I had to do, I made so many perquisitions
before I ventured even to light a fire, that I at length discovered a small
barrel of gunpowder, carefully hid beneath the furnace, with the purpose, no
doubt, that as soon as I should commence the grand work of the transmutation of
metals, the explosion should transmute the vault and all in it into a heap of
ruins, which might serve at once for my slaughter-house and my grave. This cured
me of alchemy, and fain would I have returned to the honest hammer and anvil;
but who would bring a horse to be shod by the Devil's post? Meantime I had won
the regard of my honest Flibbertigibbet here, he being then at Farringdon with
his master, the sage Erasmus Holiday, by teaching him a few secrets such as
please youth at his age; and after much counsel together, we agreed, that since
I could get no practice in the ordinary way, I should try how I could work out
business among these ignorant boors, by practising upon their silly fears; and
thanks to Flibbertigibbet, who hath spread my renown, I have not wanted custom.
But it is won at too great risk, and I fear I shall be at length taken up for a
wizard; so that I seek but an opportunity to leave this vault when I can have
the protection of some worshipful person against the fury of the populace, in
case they chance to recognise me.«
    »And art thou,« said Tressilian, »perfectly acquainted with the roads in
this country?«
    »I could ride them every inch by midnight,