Then I again asked him:  What the Menstruum was, and whether the Operations were made in Glasses, or in Crucibles.  He answered; The Menstruum is a Celestial Salt, or a Salt of Celestial Virtue, by the benefit of which, Philosophers only dissolve the Terrene Metallick Body, and in dissolving, the noble Elixir of Philosophers is produced.  But the Operation is, performed in a Crucible, from the beginning to the end, in an open Fire.  And the Whole Work may be begun, and plainly ended in no longer time, then four dayes:  Also in this whole Work, no greater Cost is required, then the value of three Florens.  Lastly he added; Neither the Mineral, from Which, nor the Salt by Which, is of any great Price.  I again said to him:  My Master; This is strange, for it is repugnant to the sayings of various Philosophers, Who have writ, that at least seven, or nine Moneths are imployed in this Work.  He answered:  The true writings of Philosophers are only; understood by the truly Adept.  Therefore, touching the Time, they would write nothing certain; yea; I say, no Lover of this Art, can find the Art of preparing this Mystery in his whole Life without the Communication of some true Adept Man.  In this respect and for this Cause, I advise you, my Friend, because you have seen the true Matter of the true Work, not to forget your self, and thirsting after the perfection of this Art, to cast away your own Goods; for you can never find it out.  Then I say’d:  My Master, although I am so unknown to you, as you are unknown to me; nevertheless, since he was unknown to you who shewed you the way of finding out the Operation of this Arcanum, perhaps you may also, if you be willing, notifie to me somewhat, touching this Secret, that the most difficult Rudiments being overcome, I may (as the saying is) happily add somewhat to things already found out; for by the occasion of one thing found, another is not difficultly invented.  But the Artist answered:  In this Work the matter is not so, For unless you know the thing, from the beginning of the Work to the end, you know nothing thereof.  Indeed I have told you enough, yet you are ignorant how the Stone of Philosophers is made, and again, how the Glassy Seal of Hermes is broaken, in which Sol gives forth Splendor from his Metallick Rayes, wonderfully coloured, and in which Speculum, the Eyes of Narcissus behold Metals transmutable, and from which Rayes the Adept gather their fire, by the help of which, Volatile Metals are fixed into most fixed Gold, or Silver.  But enough for this time, because (God willing) on the Morrow, we shall have occasion of meeting yet once more, that we may talk together touching this Philosophick matter; and according as I said, at nine a Clock, I will come to your House, and shew you the way of Projecting.  But with that happy Valediction for one night, that Elias the Artist hath left me most sad in expectation unto this very day.  Yea, the Mercury of Philosophers did with him vanish into Aire; because from him I did no more again hear so