at your street door; for I am
desperately hungry, and wish to find a hotel where I may obtain a supper
and bed, in case I should not meet with Baron Stilkin, who landed for
the express purpose of looking for one."

"Wait a few moments longer, my friend," said the alchemist, still
stirring on. "You would not surely have me throw away the labour of
years to gratify your selfish object. Just step aside in the meantime
into that recess, as I am not quite certain what is about to happen.
There may come an explosion, such has occurred before now, and then at
the bottom of this crucible I firmly believe that I shall discover the
philosopher's stone. It has never appeared yet, but, once in my
possession, I shall leave this cold vault for ever, and emerge into the
upper world, to commence the great undertaking I have designed. Stand
aside! stand aside! at any moment there may be an explosion."

The Count at first thought that the wisest plan would be to escape up
the stone steps, as he had no wish to be exposed to the effects of the
expected explosion; but, curious to see the result, he stepped aside, as
the old alchemist advised him, into a recess of the vault. Still the
alchemist stirred on, but nothing occurred. The Count was losing
patience when he heard the sound of feet descending the steps.

"Here comes my familiar spirit," muttered the alchemist; "he always does
come just when I am about to make my grand discovery."

"He treads very heavily for a spirit!" thought the Count.

At that moment a remarkable and unattractive-looking person came into
the light of the lamp; he was a short, thick-set man, with a huge head,
almost a dwarf, dressed in a long coat and high boots, carrying in his
hand a kettle.

The alchemist as he saw him started up. "Why have you come? Why hast
thou come, thou enemy of science? thou who, night after night, hast
prevented me from making the grand discovery, the aim of my existence,
thou disturber of my studies, thou foe of the human race!"

"You know well enough, Mynheer Bosch, that what you say is all nonsense,
and that I will not allow you to abuse me in this fashion," exclaimed
the dwarf, lifting up the kettle as if he were about to throw it at the
philosopher's head. "Come along, and leave your old bottles and jars;
it is high time that you were in bed, and my business is to see you safe
there, and to lock you up till to-morrow morning."

"But I have a visitor," said the philos