Yes, Matter Doctor, You now have within your hand, the most pretious Treasure in the World.  For this is the true Stone of Philosophers, than which, no Man ever had a better, nor shall have any other.  And I my self did elaborate the Composition, from beginning to end.  If you have another convenient Chamber, I will Shew you Metal transmuted into Gold, by such a Stone as this (When I had brought him into another Chamber.) Behold (said he) these five Pendants, were, by the benefit of this Philosophick Tincture, prepared of Saturn, or Lead; which I wear for a perpetual Remembrance of my Master.  But I suppose, you, having perused many Writings of the Adept, seeing the Substance, and Nature of this Stone, will very sufficiently know the true Matter, or rightly understand the same.

Physician.

I understand by your self, that you had a Master, from whom you rather learned your Art, than acquired the same, by your proper Labour and Invention.  And although I now have seen that Substance, which you affirm to be the true Tincture of Philosophers, as also those five Pendants, nevertheless I am still left ignorant, and in doubt, whether it be true or no.  Therefore, I earnestly again and again request of you, to confer on me only so small a part of that matter, as will suffice to transmute only four grains of Lead into Gold, that you may this way remove from me all Scruple or Doubt, and render me so much the more certain of the verity of the Matter.  Give me but the magnitude of one grain only, or of a Coriander-seed, that thence a Specimen, or Probation, may be exhibited, either in some desperate Disease, or in a Metallick Transmutation.

Artist.

I do confess, that a certain Man of good Condition, to me wholly unknown, by demonstrating taught me; First, the possibility of transmutation; secondly the way of preparing also.  And this is that Infallible Art, touching which you have no reason to doubt.  But whereas, you request that I should give you one small part of my Treasure; that is no wise lawful for me to do, although, you would give as a Recompense, so many Ducats, as this whole Room, from the bottom to the top, would contein; and that not by reason of the estimation of the Matter, because it is of small Price, but for another weighty Reason, in respect of which, if it were possible, that Fire could be consumed by Fire, I would at this time, rather cast this whole Mass into the devouring Flames, before your Eyes.  Wherefore, in the meanwhile, I admonish you, not to be so eager in coveting this so great Science.  For you have this day seen more in my possession, than many Kings, and Princes could ever behold, although they eagerly desired to see the same.  Besides, I think of comming to you again, after 3 Weeks, then I will shew to you certain excellent Arts, and Manuductions in the Chymical Science.  Also, if it shall then be lawful for me, to shew you the way of Transmutation, I will truely satisfie your Curiosity therein.  In the mean while, I bid you farewel, withal, admonishing, that you take heed to your self, and meddle not with such a great, and profound Labour, least:  you miserably loose both your Fame, and substance in the Ashes like some other covetous inquisitors, of the same most noble Art.