andIhadhimescortedbyeightortenvigilantmen，towhomIhadgivennoticetowatchhishandsstrictly。Beforeallofushechangedtwopiecesofleadintogoldandsilver。IsentthembothtoM。dePontchartrain；andheafterwardsinformedmebyaletter，nowlyingbeforeme，thathehadshownthemtothemostexperiencedgoldsmithsofParis，whounanimouslypronouncedthemtobegoldandsilveroftheverypurestquality，andwithoutalloy。MyformerbadopinionofDelislewasnowindeedshaken。ItwasmuchmoresowhenheperformedtransmutationfiveorsixtimesbeforemeatSenes，andmademeperformitmyselfbeforehimwithouthisputtinghishandtoanything。
　　Youhaveseen，sir，theletterofmynephew，thePereBerard，oftheOratoireatParis，ontheexperimentthatheperformedatCastellane，andthetruthofwhichIherebyattest。Anothernephewofmine，theSieurBourget，whowasherethreeweeksago，performedthesameexperimentinmypresence，andwilldetailallthecircumstancestoyoupersonallyatParis。Ahundredpersonsinmydiocesehavebeenwitnessesofthesethings。Iconfesstoyou，sir，that，afterthetestimonyofsomanyspectatorsandsomanygoldsmiths，andaftertherepeatedlysuccessfulexperimentsthatIsawperformed，allmyprejudicesvanished。Myreasonwasconvincedbymyeyes；andthephantomsofimpossibilitywhichIhadconjuredupweredissipatedbytheworkofmyownhands。
　　“Itnowonlyremainsformetospeaktoyouonthesubjectofhispersonandconduct。Threesuspicionshavebeenexcitedagainsthim:
　　thefirst，ThathewasimplicatedinsomecriminalproceedingatCisteron，andthathefalsifiedthecoinoftherealm；thesecond，ThattheKingsenthimtwosafe-conductswithouteffect；andthethird，ThathestilldelaysgoingtocourttooperatebeforetheKing。
　　Youmaysee，sir，thatIdonothideoravoidanything。AsregardsthebusinessatCisteron，theSieurDelislehasrepeatedlyassuredmethattherewasnothingagainsthimwhichcouldreasonablydrawhimwithinthepaleofjustice，andthathehadnevercarriedonanycallinginjurioustotheKing’sservice。Itwastruethat，sixorsevenyearsago，hehadbeentoCisterontogatherherbsnecessaryforhispowder，andthathehadlodgedatthehouseofonePelouse，whomhethoughtanhonestman。PelousewasaccusedofclippingLouisd’ors；andashehadlodgedwithhim，hewassuspectedofbeinghisaccomplice。Thismeresuspicion，withoutanyproofwhatever，hadcausedhimtobecondemnedforcontumacy；acommoncaseenoughwithjudges，whoalwaysproceedwithmuchrigouragainstthosewhoareabsent。DuringmyownsojournatAix，itwaswellknownthataman，namedAndreAluys，hadspreadaboutreportsinjurioustothecharacterofDelisle，becausehehopedtherebytoavoidpayinghimasumoffortyLouisthatheowedhim。Butpermitme，sir，togofurther，andtoaddthat，eveniftherewerewell-foundedsupicionsagainstDelisle，weshouldlookwithsomelittleindulgenceonthefaultsofamanwhopossessesasecretsousefultothestate。Asregardsthetwosafe-conductssenthimbytheKing，IthinkIcananswercertainlythatitwasthroughnofaultofhisthathepaidsolittleattentiontothem。Hisyear，strictlyspeaking，consistsonlyofthefoursummermonths；andwhenbyanymeansheispreventedfrommakingtheproperuseofthem，helosesawholeyear。Thusthefirstsafe-conductbecameuselessbytheirruptionoftheDukeofSavoyin1707；andthesecondhadhardlybeenobtained，attheendofJune1708，whenthesaidDelislewasinsultedbyapartyofarmedmen，pretendingtoactundertheauthorityoftheCountdeGrignan，towhomhewroteseverallettersofcomplaint，withoutreceivinganyanswer，orpromisethathissafetywouldbeattendedto。WhatIhavenowtoldyou，sir，removesthethirdobjection，andisthereasonwhy，atthepresenttime，hecannotgotoParistotheKing，infulfilmentofhispromisesmadetwoyearsago。
　　Two，oreventhree，summershavebeenlosttohim，owingtothecontinualinquietudehehaslabouredunder。Hehas，inconsequence，beenunabletowork，andhasnotcollectedasufficientquantityofhisoilandpowder，orbroughtwhathehasgottothenecessarydegreeofperfection。ForthisreasonalsohecouldnotgivetheSieurdeBourgettheportionhepromisedhimforyourinspection。Iftheotherdayhechangedsomeleadintogoldwithafewgrainsofhispowder，theywereassuredlyallhehad；forhetoldmethatsuchwasthefactlongbeforeheknewmynephewwascoming。EvenifhehadpreservedthissmallquantitytooperatebeforetheKing，Iamsurethat，onsecondthoughts，hewouldneverhaveadventuredwithsolittle；
　　becausetheslightestobstaclesinthemetalstheirbeingtoohardortoosoft，whichisonlydiscoveredinoperatingwouldhavecausedhimtobelookeduponasanimpostor，if，incasehisfirstpowderhadprovedineffectual，hehadnotbeenpossessedofmoretorenewtheexperimentandsurmountthedifficulty。
　　“Permitme，sir，inconclusion，torepeatthatsuchanartistasthisshouldnotbedriventothelastextremity，norforcedtoseekanasylumofferedtohiminothercountries，butwhichhehasdespised，asmuchfromhisowninclinationsasfromtheadviceIhavegivenhim。
　　Yourisknothingingivinghimalittletime，andinhurryinghimyoumayloseagreatdeal。Thegenuinenessofhisgoldcannolongerbedoubted，afterthetestimonyofsomanyjewellersofAix，Lyons，andParisinitsfavour。Asitisnothisfaultthattheprevioussafe-conductssenttohimhavebeenofnoservice，itwillbenecessarytosendhimanother；forthesuccessofwhichIwillbeanswerable，ifyouwillconfidethemattertome，andtrusttomyzealfortheserviceofhisMajesty，towhomIprayyoutocommunicatethisletter，thatImaybesparedthejustreproacheshemightonedayheapuponmeifheremainedignorantofthefactsIhavenowwrittentoyou。Assurehim，ifyouplease，that，ifyousendmesuchasafe-conduct，IwillobligetheSieurDelisletodeposewithmesuchpreciouspledgesofhisfidelity，asshallenablemetoberesponsiblemyselftotheKing。Thesearemysentiments，andIsubmitthemtoyoursuperiorknowledge；andhavethehonourtoremain，withmuchrespect，&c。
　　“*JOHN，BishopofSenes。“
　　“ToM。Desmarets，MinisterofState，and“Comptroller-GeneraloftheFinances，atParis。“
　　ThatDelislewasnoordinaryimpostor，butamanofconsummatecunningandaddress，isveryevidentfromthisletter。TheBishopwasfairlytakeninbyhiscleverlegerdemain，andwhenoncehisfirstdistrustwasconquered，appearedasanxioustodeceivehimselfasevenDelislecouldhavewished。Hisfaithwassoabundantthathemadethecaseofhisprotegehisown，andwouldnotsufferthebreathofsuspiciontobedirectedagainsthim。BothLouisandhisministerappeartohavebeendazzledbythebrillianthopeshehadexcited，andathirdpass，orsafe-conduct，wasimmediatelysenttothealchymist，withacommandfromtheKingthatheshouldforthwithpresenthimselfatVersailles，andmakepublictrialofhisoilandpowder。ButthisdidnotsuittheplansofDelisle:intheprovinceshewasregardedasamanofnosmallimportance；theservileflatterythatawaitedhimwhereverhewentwassogratefultohismindthathecouldnotwillinglyrelinquishitandrunuponcertaindetectionatthecourtoftheMonarch。Upononepretextoranotherhedelayedhisjourney，notwithstandingtheearnestsolicitationsofhisgoodfriendtheBishop。Thelatterhadgivenhiswordtotheminister，andpledgedhishonourthathewouldinduceDelisletogo，andhebegantobealarmedwhenhefoundhecouldnotsubduetheobstinacyofthatindividual。
　　Formorethantwoyearshecontinuedtoremonstratewithhim，andwasalwaysmetbysomeexcuse，thattherewasnotsufficientpowder，orthatithadnotbeenlongenoughexposedtotheraysofthesun。Atlasthispatiencewasexhausted；andfearfulthathemightsufferintheroyalestimationbylongerdelay，hewrotetotheKingforalettredecachet，invirtueofwhichthealchymistwasseizedatthecastleofLaPalu，inthemonthofJune1711，andcarriedofftobeimprisonedintheBastille。
　　Thegendarmeswereawarethattheirprisonerwassupposedtobetheluckypossessorofthephilosopher’sstone，andontheroadtheyconspiredtorobandmurderhim。Oneofthempretendedtobetouchedwithpityforthemisfortunesofthephilosopher，andofferedtogivehimanopportunityofescapewheneverhecoulddiverttheattentionofhiscompanions。Delislewasprofuseinhisthanks，littledreamingofthesnarethatwaslaidforhim。Histreacherousfriendgavenoticeofthesuccessofthestratagemsofar；anditwasagreedthatDelisleshouldbeallowedtostrugglewithandoverthrowoneofthemwhiletherestwereatsomedistance。Theywerethentopursuehimandshoothimthroughtheheart；andafterrobbingthecorpseofthephilosopher’sstone，conveyittoParisonacart，andtellM。Desmaretsthattheprisonerhadattemptedtoescape，andwouldhavesucceeded，iftheyhadnotfiredafterhimandshothimthroughthebody。Ataconvenientplacetheschemewasexecuted。AtagivensignalfromthefriendlygendarmeDelislefled，whileanothergendarmetookaimandshothimthroughthethigh。Somepeasantsarrivingattheinstant，theywerepreventedfromkillinghimastheyintended；andhewastransportedtoParis，maimedandbleeding。HewasthrownintoadungeonintheBastille，andobstinatelytoreawaythebandageswhichthesurgeonsappliedtohiswound。Heneverafterwardsrosefromhisbed。
　　TheBishopofSenesvisitedhiminprison，andpromisedhimhislibertyifhewouldtransmuteacertainquantityofleadintogoldbeforetheKing。Theunhappymanhadnolongerthemeansofcarryingonthedeception；hehadnogold，andnodouble-bottomedcrucibleorhollowwandtoconcealitin，evenifhehad。Hewouldnot，however，confessthathewasanimpostor；butmerelysaidhedidnotknowhowtomakethepowderofprojection，buthadreceivedaquantityfromanItalianphilosopher，andhaduseditallinhisvarioustransmutationsinProvence。HelingeredforsevenoreightmonthsintheBastille，anddiedfromtheeffectsofhiswound，intheforty-firstyearofhisage。
　　ALBERTALUYS。
　　Thispretendertothephilosopher’sstone，wastheson，byaformerhusband，ofthewomanAluys，withwhomDelislebecameacquaintedatthecommencementofhiscareer，inthecabaretbytheroadside，andwhomheafterwardsmarried。Delisleperformedthepartofafathertowardshim，andthoughthecouldshownostrongerproofofhisregard，thanbygivinghimthenecessaryinstructionstocarryonthedeceptionwhichhadraisedhimselftosuchapitchofgreatness。TheyoungAluyswasanaptscholar，andsoonmasteredallthejargonofthealchymists。Hediscoursedlearnedlyuponprojections，cimentations，sublimations，theelixiroflife，andtheuniversalalkahest；andonthedeathofDelislegaveoutthatthesecretofthatgreatadepthadbeencommunicatedtohim，andtohimonly。Hismotheraidedinthefraud，withthehopetheymightbothfastenthemselves，inthetruealchymicalfashion，uponsomerichdupe，whowouldentertainthemmagnificentlywhiletheoperationwasinprogress。ThefateofDelislewasnoinducementforthemtostopinFrance。TheProvencals，itistrue，entertainedashighanopinionaseverofhisskill，andwerewellinclinedtobelievethetalesoftheyoungadeptonwhomhismantlehadfallen；butthedungeonsoftheBastillewereyawningfortheirprey，andAluysandhismotherdecampedwithallconvenientexpedition。TheytravelledabouttheContinentforseveralyears，sponginguponcredulousrichmen，andnowandthenperformingsuccessfultransmutationsbytheaidofdouble-bottomedcruciblesandthelike。Intheyear1726，Aluys，withouthismother，whoappearstohavediedintheinterval，wasatVienna，whereheintroducedhimselftotheDukedeRichelieu，atthattimeambassadorfromthecourtofFrance。Hecompletelydeceivedthisnobleman；heturnedleadintogoldapparentlyonseveraloccasions，andevenmadetheambassadorhimselfturnanironnailintoasilverone。TheDukeafterwardsboastedtoLengletduFresnoyofhisachievementsasanalchymist，andregrettedthatbehadnotbeenabletodiscoverthesecretofthepreciouspowderbywhichheperformedthem。
　　Aluyssoonfoundthat，althoughhemightmakeadupeoftheDukedeRichelieu，hecouldnotgetanymoneyfromhim。Onthecontrary，theDukeexpectedallhispokersandfireshovelstobemadesilver，andallhispewterutensilsgold；andthoughtthehonourofhisacquaintancewasrewardsufficientforaroturier，whocouldnotwantwealthsincehepossessedsoinvaluableasecret。Aluysseeingthatsomuchwasexpectedofhim，badeadieutohisExcellency，andproceededtoBohemia，accompaniedbyapupil，andbyayounggirlwhohadfalleninlovewithhiminVienna。SomenoblemeninBohemiareceivedhimkindly，andentertainedhimattheirhousesformonthsatatime。Itwashisusualpracticetopretendthathepossessedonlyafewgrainsofhispowder，withwhichhewouldoperateinanyhousewhereheintendedtofixhisquartersfortheseason。Hewouldmaketheproprietorapresentofthepieceofgoldthustransmuted，andpromisehimmillions，ifhecouldonlybeprovidedwithleisuretogatherhislunariamajorandminorontheirmountaintops，andboard，lodging，andloosecashforhimself，hiswife，andhispupilintheinterval。