ringing with the newly awakened song of all the feathered inhabitants of the forest."

"And this without danger to life?" said Varney, somewhat anxiously.

"Ay, so that proportion and measure be not exceeded; and so that one who knows the nature of the manna be ever near to watch the symptoms, and succour in case of need."

“Thou shalt regulate the whole,” said Varney; "thy reward shall be princely, if thou keep'st time and touch, and exceedest not the due proportion to the prejudice of her health—otherwise thy punishment shall be as signal."

"The prejudice of her health!" repeated Alasco; "it is, then, a woman I am to use my skill upon ?"

"No, thou fool ''" replied Varney; "said I not it was a bird — a reclaimed linnet, whose pipe might sooth a hawk when in mid stoop ?-I see thine eye sparkle, and I know thy beard is not altogether so white as art has made it that, at least, thou hast been able to transmute to silver. But mark me, this is no mate for thee. This caged bird is dear to one who brooks no rivalry, and far less such rivalry as thine, and her health must over all things be cared for. But she is in the case of being commanded down to yonder Kenilworth revels; and it is most expedient - most needful. -most necessary, that she fly not thither. Of these necessities and their causes, it is not needful that she should know aught, and it is to be thought that her own wish may lead her to combat all ordinary reasons which can be urged for her remaining a housekeeper."

"That is but natural," said the alchemist, with a strange smile, which yet bore a greater reference

to the human character, than the uninterested and abstracted gaze which his physiognomy had hitherto expressed, where all seemed to refer to some world distant from that which was existing around him.

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"It is so," answered Varney; you understand women well, though it may have been long since you were conversant amongst them. - Well then, she is not to be contradicted yet she is not to be humoured. Understand me—a slight illness, sufficient to take away the desire of removing from thence, and to make such of your wise fraternity as may be called in to aid, recommend a quiet residence at home, will, in one word, be esteemed good service, and remunerated as such."

"I am not to be asked to affect the House of Life ?" said the chemist.

"On the contrary, we will have thee hanged if thou doest," replied Varney.

"And I must," added Alasco, "have opportunity to do my turn, and all facilities for concealment or escape, should there be detection ?"

"All, all, and every thing, thou infidel in all but the impossibilities of alchemy - Why, man, for what dost thou take me ?"

The old man' rose, and taking a light, walked towards the end of the apartment, where was a door that led to the small sleeping-room destined for his reception during that night. At the door he turned round, and slowly repeated Varney's question ere he answered it." For what do I take thee, Richard VarWhy, for a worse devil than I have been myself. But I am in your toils, and I must serve you till my term be out."

ney?

-

"Well, well," answered Varney hastily, "be stirring with grey light. It may be we shall not need thy medicine-Do nought till I myself come down. Michael Lambourne shall guide you to the place of your destination."

When Varney heard the adept's door shut and carefully bolted within, he stepped towards it, and with similar precaution carefully locked it on the outside, and took the key from the lock, muttering to himself, "Worse than thee, thou poisoning quacksalver and witch-monger, who, if thou art not a bounden slave to the devil, it is only because he disdains such an apprentice! I am a mortal man, and seek by mortal means the gratification of my passions, and advancement of my prospects Thou art a vassal. of hell itself. So, ho, Lambourne !" he called at another door, and Michael made his appearance, with a flushed cheek and an unsteady step.

"Thou art drunk, thou villain!" said Varney to him.

"Doubtless, noble sir," replied the unabashed Michael; 66 we have been drinking all even to the glories of the day, and to my noble Lord of Leicester, and his valiant master of the horse. - Drunk! odds blades and poniards, he that would refuse to swallow a dozen healths on such an evening, is a base besognio, and a puckfist, and shall swallow six inches of my dagger!"

"Hark ye, scoundrel," said Varney, "be sober on the instant-I command thee! I know thou canst throw off thy drunken folly, like a fool's coat, at pleasure; and if not, it were the worse for thee."

Lambourne drooped his head, left the apartment, and returned in two or three minutes with his face

composed, his hair adjusted, his dress in order, and exhibiting as great a difference from his former self as if the whole man had been changed.

"Art thou sober now, and dost thou comprehend me?" said Varney, sternly.

Lambourne bowed in acquiescence.

"Thou must presently down to Cumnor Place with the reverend man of art, who sleeps yonder in the little vaulted chamber. Here is the key, that thou may'st call him by times. Take another trusty fellow with you. Use him well on the journey, but let him not escape you-pistol him if he attempt it, and I will be your warrant. I will give thee letters to Foster. The doctor is to occupy the lower apartments of the eastern quadrangle, with freedom to use the old elaboratory and its implements. He is to have no access to the lady but such as I shall point out— only she may be amused to see his philosophical jugglery. Thou wilt await at Cumnor Place my farther orders; and, as thou livest, beware of the alebench and the aqua-vitæ flask. Each breath drawn in Cumnor Place must be kept severed from common air."

"Enough, my lord- I mean my worshipful master — soon, I trust, to be my worshipful knightly master. You have given me my lesson and my license; - I will execute the one, and not abuse the other. I will be in the saddle by day-break."

"Do so, and deserve favour.- Stay-ere thou goest fill me a cup of wine- not out of that flask, sirrah,". as Lambourne was pouring out from that which Alasco had left half finished, fetch me a fresh one."

Lambourne obeyed, and Varney, after rinsing his mouth with the liquor, drank a full oup, and said,

as he took up a lamp to retreat to his sleeping apartment, "It is strange-I am as little the slave of fancy as any one, yet I never speak for a few minutes with this fellow Alasco, but my mouth and lungs feel as if soiled with the fumes of calcined arsenicpah !"

So saying, he left the apartment. Lambourne lingered to drink a cup of the freshly opened flask. "It is from Saint-John's-Berg," he said, as he paused on the draught to enjoy its flavour, "and has the true relish of the violet. But I must forbear it now, that I may one day drink it at my own pleasure." And he quaffed a goblet of water to quench the fumes of the Rhenish wine, retired slowly towards the door, made a pause, and then, finding the temptation irresistible, walked hastily back, and took another long pull at the wine flask, without the formality of a cup.

"Were it not for this accursed custom," he said, "I might climb as high as Varney himself. But who can climb, when the room turns round with him like a parish-top? I would the distance were greater, or the road rougher, betwixt my hand and mouth! But I will drink nothing to-morrow, save water— nothing save fair water.”