hich enclosed a sort of chemical furnace. The clergyman introduced
himself and, after hinting that he had heard of the Master's great
love for science, observed that he had long ardently wished to make
his acquaintance, as science was his own darling pursuit. They might
be able, he suggested, to exchange ideas to their mutual advantage.

The Master hereupon welcomed him warmly as a guest. Presently he
pressed a secret spring, and a bright fire suddenly blazed up in the
furnace before them. In a moment the Master had drawn forth from the
oven a supply of bread, meat and dried figs, just as if they had all
been freshly baked and prepared within. He then turned a tap in
another part of the same apparatus, and at once a stream of fresh
foaming beer flowed into a large tankard beneath. This he placed with
the other good things on the table before his guest.

The Reverend Herr Waimoener convinced himself by tasting that
everything was really what it appeared to be.

"But tell me, my good sir," he exclaimed in astonishment, "whence do
you procure all these provisions?"

"That is perfectly simple," replied the Master gravely. "Everything on
earth, as you know, is produced by the transformation of matter. The
alchemists of old used to puzzle their brains to discover how to make
stones into gold. But I have solved a much deeper problem than
that--how to make the rocks into bread, meat and fruit, and the waters
of the sea into sparkling wine and foaming beer."

"You are pleased to make sport of me, I see," said the clergyman with
a somewhat sickly smile.

"Quite the contrary, my friend," said the Master. "The proof is before
you. Beneath and around me, as you see, there is nothing but rocks and
water. As you know, I have not stirred from this spot for years, and
could not do so if I wished, for I have no vessel. Yet I live here
with some fifty companions, without asking a single thing from any one
on your island. Besides, what is there in my theory that is
incredible? Are not the constituents of bread, flesh and fruit already
present in the rocks, the air and the ocean? You are a scientific man
and, of course, know well that it is as I say. In truth, the only
secret in the business is how to hasten Nature's tardy process of
the transformation of matter. That is my discovery. Just look here for
a moment. In this vessel you see a black, sticky fluid. You may tell
it by its smell. It is tar. And here before us is a heated furna