renounce his conquest of the potable gold; he
waited three months longer, and during these three months fresh favors
were lavished on Boiviel, who habituated himself to these proceedings
with praiseworthy resignation.

Treated as a friend, called also by that title, Boiviel justified the
Abbe de Voisenon in saying to him one day, that he had no longer a hope
in any remedy whatsoever, save the potable gold, for the cure of his
asthma. Without the specific, as much above other remedies as the sun is
above fire, the only course left him was to die. Boiviel was moved, his
iron resolves were shaken, and his qualms of conscience ceded to the
voice of friendship. He warned his friend, however, that in order to
compose a little fluid gold much solid gold would be required. The first
essay would cost ten thousand livres at the very least. Voisenon, who
would have given twenty thousand to be cured, consented to the
sacrifice, thanking heartily his future liberator, who, on the following
day, commenced the great work. What sage deliberation did he bring to
the task! and how slowly did the work proceed! Day followed day, month
followed month, but as yet no gold, except that which the Abbe de
Voisenon himself contributed in pieces of twenty-four livres each. The
day at length arrived in which, the ten thousand livres being exhausted,
Boiviel informed his patient that the fluid gold was in flasks, and
would be ready for use in a month.

It was during this month that the alchemist Boiviel took leave of the
Abbe de Voisenon, on the pretext of going to see his old father, who
resided in Flanders. Before two months were out he would return to the
chateau, in order to observe the beneficial effects of the liquified
metal. Warmly embraced by his friend, overwhelmed with presents,
solicited to return as speedily as possible, Boiviel quitted the Chateau
de Voisenon, where he had lived for nearly a year, and in what manner we
have seen.

After the time allowed by Boiviel for the fluid gold to be fit for use
had elapsed, the Abbe de Voisenon began his course of the medicine. He
emptied the first, the second, and the third flask, awaiting the result
with exemplary patience; but an asthma is not to be cured in a week,
especially an asthma of forty years' standing.

Boiviel had not yet returned; he had now been four months in Flanders;
to these four months succeeded another four, but no Boiviel; the year
revolved, the flasks diminished, but