“Hardcastle—­Hardcastle—­I say.  He has lost his beast.”

“Why, I told him so,” said the Doctor, with great composure.

“But he has lost her!”

“I know it,” replied Dee.

“I have just left him in great anger, swearing by things both visible and invisible that he will have his own again; that we are confederate in the matter:  and that he will cite us both before the chapter or the Star-Chamber.”

“How hath it happened?” said Dee, scrawling listlessly with his pen.

“I went with him to the boy, thinking I would see the end on’t.  By the way he did use many taunts and ill-natured speeches about my pursuit after the great arcanum, and belief in the celestial sciences; together with many unpleasant hints that the money we have expended in the adventure will never be got back.  Discoursing thus, we came near to the place where he expected to find the boy.  Sure enough he was there, and fast asleep on the ground; but the mare was gone, the bridle being left on the lad’s arm, which his master banged about his shoulders until he awaked.  Pray, Master Dee, be pleased to help him to his mare.  I owe him moneys, for which he, taking advantage of the debt, may put me in prison.”

“The scoffer shall not go unpunished, nor shall he that revileth partake of the blessing.  Go thy way, and tell him he may not recover his goods.”

Eccleston departed with this heavy message, and Bartholomew was again left communing with the Doctor.

The matter that still occupied their thoughts was the treasure at Aldport Lodge.  With this in their possession they might reasonably expect that great progress would be made in their search for the philosopher’s stone and the vivifying elixir.  These important articles obtained, the hidden secrets of nature would be at their command, and their schemes and wishes might then be pursued with the certainty of success.  The night but one following, at the precise time when the moon came to a trine aspect with Saturn and Jupiter, was appointed for the discovery.  The hour of Saturn commenced five minutes before midnight, and the heavenly influences were then singularly disposed in favour of their undertaking.

With dazzling anticipations of future prosperity and success they separated:  one to indulge in dreams so chimerical and vast that even Fancy herself drew back, dazzled with her own brightness; the other to an obscure lodging in the Old Millgate, where he committed himself to the keeping of a straw pallet and a coverlet of which the rats had for some time before held undisputed possession.