to revive, fell to stamping, tearing his hair, and raving like a madman, crying out undone, undone, lost and undone for ever.  He ran directly to the Athanor, when unlocking the door, he found the machine split quite in two, the eggs broke, and that precious amalgamum which they contained was scattered like sand among the ashes.  Mrs. Thomas’s eyes were now sufficiently opened to discern the imposture, and, with a very serene countenance, told the empyric, that accidents will happen, but means might be fallen upon to repair this fatal disappointment.  The Dr. observing her so serene, imagined she would grant him more money to compleat his scheme, but she soon disappointed his expectation, by ordering him to be gone, and made him a present of five guineas, left his desperate circumstances should induce him to take some violent means of providing for himself.

Whether deluded by a real hope of finding out the Philosopher’s Stone, or from an innate principle of villainy, cannot be determined, but he did not yet cease his pursuit, and still indulged the golden delusion.  He now found means to work upon the credulity of an old miser, who, upon the strength of his pretensions, gave him his daughter in marriage, and embarked all his hoarded treasure, which was very considerable, in the same chimerical adventure.  In a word, the miser’s stock was also lost, the empyric himself, and the daughter reduced to beggary.  This unhappy affair broke the miser’s heart, who did not many weeks survive the loss of his cash.  The Dr. also put a miserable end to his life by drinking poison, and left his wife with two young children in a state of beggary.  But to return to Mrs. Thomas.

The poor lady suffered on this occasion a great deal of inward anguish; she was ashamed of having reduced her fortune, and impoverished her child by listening to the insinuations of a madman.  Time and patience at last overcame it; and when her health, which by this accident had been impaired, was restored to her, she began to stir amongst her husband’s great clients.  She took a house in Bloomsbury, and by means of good economy, and an elegant appearance, was supposed to be better in the world than she really was.  Her husband’s clients received her like one risen from the dead:  They came to visit her, and promised to serve her.  At last the duke of Montague advised her to let lodgings, which way of life she declined, as her talents were not suited for dealing with ordinary lodgers; but added she, ’if I knew any family who desired such a conveniency, I would readily accommodate them.’  I take you at your word, replied the duke, ’I will become your sole tenant:  Nay don’t smile, for I am in earnest, I love a little freedom more than I can enjoy at home, and I may come sometimes and eat a bit of mutton, with four or five honest fellows, whose company I delight in.’  The bargain was bound, and proved matter of fact, though on a deeper scheme than drinking a bottle:  And his lordship was to pass in the house for Mr. Freeman of Hertfordshire.