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surround my child and myself with such moderate comforts as our
means allowed。 I went to my daughter and explained to her that I
desired to make an encroachment upon our little hoard。 To my utter
amazement； she burst into tears； and told me that she had not got a
dollarthat all of our wealth had been stolen from her。 Almost
overwhelmed by this new misfortune； I in vain endeavored to
discover from her in what manner our savings had been plundered。
She could afford me no explanation beyond what I might gather from
an abundance of sobs and a copious flow of tears。
〃It was a bitter blow； doctor； but nil desperandum was my motto； so
I went to work at my crucible again； with redoubled energy； and
made an ingot nearly every second day。 I determined this time to
put them in some secure place myself； but the very first day I set
my apparatus in order for the projection； the girl Marionthat is
my daughter's namecame weeping to me and implored me to allow her
to take care of our treasure。 I refused decisively； saying that；
having found her already incapable of filling the trust； I could
place no faith in her again。 But she persisted； clung to my neck；
threatened to abandon me； in short； used so many of the bad but
irresistible arguments known to women that I had not the heart to
refuse her。 She has since that time continued to take the ingots。
〃Yet you behold；〃 continued the old alchemist； casting an
inexpressibly mournful glance around the wretched apartment； 〃the
way we live。 Our food is insufficient and of bad quality； we never
buy clothes； the rent of this hole is a mere nothing。 What am I to
think of the wretched girl who plunges me into this misery？ Is she
a miser； think you？or a female gamester？orordoes she
squander it riotously in places I know not of？ O Doctor； Doctor！
do not blame me if I heap imprecations on her head； for I have
suffered bitterly！〃 The poor man here closed his eyes and sank
back groaning on his bed。
This singular narrative excited in me the strangest emotions。 I
glanced at the girl Marion； who had been a patient listener to
these horrible accusations of cupidity； and never did I behold a
more angelic air of resignation than beamed over her countenance。
It was impossible that anyone with those pure； limpid eyes； that
calm； broad forehead； that childlike mouth； could be such a monster
of avarice or deceit as the old man represented。 The truth was
plain enough： the alchemist was madwhat alchemist was there ever
who was not？and his insanity had taken this terrible shape。 I
felt an inexpressible pity move my heart for this poor girl； whose
youth was burdened with such an awful sorrow。
〃What is your name？〃 I asked the old man； taking his tremulous；
fevered hand in mine。
〃William Blakelock；〃 he answered。 〃I come of an old Saxon stock；
sir； that bred true men and women in former days。 God！ how did it
ever come to pass that such a one as that girl ever sprung from our
line？〃 The glance of loathing and contempt that he cast at her
made me shudder。
〃May you not be mistaken in your daughter？〃 I said； very mildly。
〃Delusions with regard to alchemy are； or have been； very common〃
〃What； sir？〃 cried the old man； bounding in his bed。 〃What？ Do
you doubt that gold can be made？ Do you know； sir； that M。 C。
Theodore Tiffereau made gold at Paris in the year 1854 in the
presence of M。 Levol； the assayer of the Imperial Mint； and the
result of the experiments was read before the Academy of Sciences
on the sixteenth of October of the same year？ But stay； you shall
have better proof yet。 I will pay you with one of my ingots； and
you shall attend me until I am well。 Get me an ingot！〃
This last command was addressed to Marion； who was still kneeling
close to her father's bedside。 I observed her with some curiosity
as this mandate was issued。 She became very pale； clasped her
hands convulsively； but neither moved nor made any reply。
〃Get me an ingot； I say！〃 reiterated the alchemist passionately。
She fixed her large eyes imploringly upon him。 Her lips quivered；
and two huge tears rolled slowly down her white cheeks。
〃Obey me； wretched girl；〃 cried the old man in an agitated voice；
〃or I swear； by all that I reverence in heaven and earth； that I
will lay my curse upon you forever！〃
I felt for an instant that I ought perhaps to interfere； and spare
the girl the anguish that she was so evidently suffering； but a
powerful curiosity to see how this strange scene would terminate
withheld me。
The last threat of her father； uttered as it was with a terrible
vehemence； seemed to appall Marion。 She rose with a sudden leap；
as if a serpent had stung her； and； rushing into an inner
apartment； returned with a small object which she placed in my
hand； and then flung herself in a chair in a distant corner of the
room； weeping bitterly。
〃You seeyou see；〃 said the old man sarcastically； 〃how
reluctantly she parts with it。 Take it； sir； it is yours。〃
It was a small bar of metal。 I examined it carefully； poised it in
my handthe color； weight； everything； announced that it really
was gold。
〃You doubt its genuineness； perhaps；〃 continued the alchemist。
〃There are acids on yonder tabletest it。〃
I confess that I DID doubt its genuineness； but after I had acted
upon the old man's suggestion； all further suspicion was rendered
impossible。 It was gold of the highest purity。 I was astounded。
Was then； after all； this man's tale a truth？ Was his daughter；
that fair； angelic…looking creature； a demon of avarice； or a slave
to worse passions？ I felt bewildered。 I had never met with
anything so incomprehensible。 I looked from father to daughter in
the blankest amazement。 I suppose that my countenance betrayed my
astonishment； for the old man said： 〃I perceive that you are
surprised。 Well； that is natural。 You had a right to think me mad
until I proved myself sane。〃
〃But； Mr。 Blakelock；〃 I said； 〃I really cannot take this gold。 I
have no right to it。 I cannot in justice charge so large a fee。〃
〃Take ittake it；〃 he answered impatiently； 〃your fee will amount
to that before I am well。 Besides；〃 he added mysteriously； 〃I wish
to secure your friendship。 I wish that you should protect me from
her；〃 and he pointed his poor； bandaged hand at Marion。
My eyes followed his gesture； and I caught the glance that replied
a glance of horror； distrust； despair。 The beautiful face was
distorted into positive ugliness。
〃It's all true；〃 I thought； 〃she is the demon that her father
represents her。〃
I now rose to go。 This domestic tragedy sickened me。 This
treachery of blood against blood was too horrible to witness。 I
wrote a prescription for the old man； left directions as to the
renewal of the dressings upon his burns； and； bidding him good
night； hastened toward the door。
While I was fumbling on the dark； crazy landi