OneofthegreatestencouragersofalchymyinthefifteenthcenturywasGillesdeLaval，LordofRaysandaMarshalofFrance。Hisnameanddeedsarelittleknown；butintheannalsofcrimeandfolly，theymightclaimthehighestandworstpro-eminence。Fictionhasneverinventedanythingwilderormorehorriblethanhiscareer；andwerenotthedetailsbuttoowellauthenticatedbylegalandotherdocumentswhichadmitnodoubt，theloverofromancemighteasilyimaginetheyweredrawntopleasehimfromthestoresoftheprolificbrain，andnotfromthepageofhistory。
　　Hewasbornabouttheyear1420，ofoneofthenoblestfamiliesofBrittany。HisfatherdyingwhenGilleshadattainedhistwentiethyear，hecameintouncontrolledpossession，atthatearlyage，ofafortunewhichthemonarchsofFrancemighthaveenviedhim。HewasanearkinsmanoftheMontmorencys，theRoncys，andtheCraons；
　　possessedfifteenprincelydomains，andhadanannualrevenueofaboutthreehundredthousandlivres。Besidesthis，hewashandsome，learned，andbrave。HedistinguishedhimselfgreatlyinthewarsofCharlesVII，andwasrewardedbythatmonarchwiththedignityofamarshalofFrance。Buthewasextravagantandmagnificentinhisstyleofliving，andaccustomedfromhisearliestyearstothegratificationofeverywishandpassion；andthis，atlast，ledhimfromvicetovice，andfromcrimetocrime，tillablackernamethanhisisnottobefoundinanyrecordofhumaniniquity。
　　InhiscastleofChamptoce，helivedwithallthesplendourofanEasternCaliph。Hekeptupatroopoftwohundredhorsementoaccompanyhimwhereverhewent；andhisexcursionsforthepurposesofhawkingandhuntingwerethewonderofallthecountryaround，somagnificentwerethecaparisonsofhissteedsandthedressesofhisretainers。Dayandnight，hiscastlewasopenalltheyearroundtocomersofeverydegree。Hemadeitaruletoregaleeventhepoorestbeggarwithwineandhippocrass。Everydayanoxwasroastedwholeinhisspaciouskitchens，besidessheep，pigs，andpoultrysufficienttofeedfivehundredpersons。Hewasequallymagnificentinhisdevotions。HisprivatechapelatChamptocewasthemostbeautifulinFrance，andfarsurpassedanyofthoseintherichly-endowedcathedralsofNotreDameinParis，ofAmiens，ofBeauvais，orofRouen。Itwashungwithclothofgoldandrichvelvet。Allthechandelierswereofpuregold，curiouslyinlaidwithsilver。Thegreatcrucifixoverthealtarwasofsolidsilver，andthechalicesandincense-burnerswereofpuregold。Hehad，besides，afineorgan，whichhecausedtobecarriedfromonecastletoanother，ontheshouldersofsixmen，wheneverhechangedhisresidence。Hekeptupachoiroftwenty-fiveyoungchildrenofbothsexes，whowereinstructedinsingingbythefirstmusiciansoftheday。Themasterofhischapelhecalledabishop，whohadunderhimhisdeans，archdeacons，andvicars，eachreceivinggreatsalaries；thebishopfourhundredcrownsayear，andtherestinproportion。
　　Healsomaintainedawholetroopofplayers，includingtendancing-girlsandasmanyballad-singers，besidesmorris-dancers，jugglers，andmountebanksofeverydescription。Thetheatreonwhichtheyperformedwasfittedupwithoutanyregardtoexpense；andtheyplayedmysteries，ordancedthemorris-dance，everyevening，fortheamusementofhimselfandhousehold，andsuchstrangersasweresharinghisprodigalhospitality。
　　Attheageoftwenty-three，hemarriedCatherine，thewealthyheiressofthehouseofTouars，forwhomherefurnishedhiscastleatanexpenseofahundredthousandcrowns。Hismarriagewasthesignalfornewextravagance，andhelaunchedoutmoremadlythaneverhehaddonebefore；sendingforfinesingersorcelebrateddancersfromforeigncountriestoamusehimandhisspouse，andinstitutingtiltsandtournamentsinhisgreatcourt-yardalmosteveryweekforalltheknightsandnoblesoftheprovinceofBrittany。TheDukeofBrittany’scourtwasnothalfsosplendidasthatoftheMarechaldeRays。Hisutterdisregardofwealthwassowellknownthathewasmadetopaythreetimesitsvalueforeverythinghepurchased。Hiscastlewasfilledwithneedyparasitesandpandererstohispleasures，amongstwhomhelavishedrewardswithanunsparinghand。Buttheordinaryroundofsensualgratificationceasedatlasttoaffordhimdelight:
　　hewasobservedtobemoreabstemiousinthepleasuresofthetable，andtoneglectthebeauteousdancing-girlswhousedformerlytooccupysomuchofhisattention。Hewassometimesgloomyandreserved；andtherewasanunnaturalwildnessinhiseyewhichgaveindicationsofincipientmadness。Still，hisdiscoursewasasreasonableasever；hisurbanitytothegueststhatflockedfromfarandneartoChamptocesufferednodiminution；andlearnedpriests，whentheyconversedwithhim，thoughttothemselvesthatfewofthenoblesofFranceweresowell-informedasGillesdeLaval。Butdarkrumoursspreadgraduallyoverthecountry；murder，and，ifpossible，stillmoreatrociousdeedswerehintedat；anditwasremarkedthatmanyyoungchildren，ofbothsexes，suddenlydisappeared，andwereneverafterwardsheardof。OneortwohadbeentracedtothecastleofChamptoce，andhadneverbeenseentoleaveit；butnoonedaredtoaccuseopenlysopowerfulamanastheMarechaldeRays。Wheneverthesubjectofthelostchildrenwasmentionedinhispresence，hemanifestedthegreatestastonishmentatthemysterywhichinvolvedtheirfate，andindignationagainstthosewhomightbeguiltyofkidnappingthem。Stilltheworldwasnotwhollydeceived；hisnamebecameasformidabletoyoungchildrenasthatofthedevouringogreinfairytales；andtheyweretaughttogomilesround，ratherthanpassundertheturretsofChamptoce。
　　Inthecourseofaveryfewyears，therecklessextravaganceoftheMarshaldrainedhimofallhisfunds，andhewasobligedtoputupsomeofhisestatesforsale。TheDukeofBrittanyenteredintoatreatywithhimforthevaluableseignoryofIngrande；buttheheirsofGillesimploredtheinterferenceofCharlesVII。tostaythesale。
　　Charlesimmediatelyissuedanedict，whichwasconfirmedbytheProvincialParliamentofBrittany，forbiddinghimtoalienatehispaternalestates。Gilleshadnoalternativebuttosubmit。HehadnothingtosupporthisextravagancebuthisallowanceasaMarshalofFrance，whichdidnotcovertheone-tenthofhisexpenses。Amanofhishabitsandcharactercouldnotretrenchhiswastefulexpenditureandlivereasonably；hecouldnotdismisswithoutapanghishorsemen，hisjesters，hismorris-dancers，hischoristers，andhisparasites，orconfinehishospitalitytothosewhoreallyneededit。Notwithstandinghisdiminishedresources，heresolvedtoliveashehadlivedbefore，andturnalchymist，thathemightmakegoldoutofiron，andbestillthewealthiestandmostmagnificentamongthenoblesofBrittany。
　　InpursuanceofthisdeterminationhesenttoParis，Italy，Germany，andSpain，invitingalltheadeptsinthesciencetovisithimatChamptoce。Themessengershedespatchedonthismissionweretwoofhismostneedyandunprincipleddependants，GillesdeSilleandRogerdeBricqueville。Thelatter，theobsequiouspanderertohismostsecretandabominablepleasures，hehadintrustedwiththeeducationofhismotherlessdaughter，achildbutfiveyearsofage，withpermission，thathemightmarryheratthepropertimetoanypersonhechose，ortohimselfifhelikeditbetter。Thismanenteredintothenewplansofhismasterwithgreatzeal，andintroducedtohimonePrelati，analchymistofPadua，andaphysicianofPoitou，whowasaddictedtothesamepursuits。TheMarshalcausedasplendidlaboratorytobefittedupforthem，andthethreecommencedthesearchforthephilosopher’sstone。Theyweresoonafterwardsjoinedbyanotherpretendedphilosopher，namedAnthonyofPalermo，whoaidedintheiroperationsforupwardsofayear。TheyallfaredsumptuouslyattheMarshal’sexpense，draininghimofthereadymoneyhepossessed，andleadinghimonfromdaytodaywiththehopethattheywouldsucceedintheobjectoftheirsearch。FromtimetotimenewaspirantsfromtheremotestpartsofEuropearrivedathiscastle，andformonthshehadupwardsoftwentyalchymistsatwork-tryingtotransmutecopperintogold，andwastingthegold，whichwasstillhisown，indrugsandelixirs。
　　ButtheLordofRayswasnotamantoabidepatientlytheirlingeringprocesses。Pleasedwiththeircomfortablequarters，theyjoggedonfromdaytoday，andwouldhavedonesoforyears，hadtheybeenpermitted。Buthesuddenlydismissedthemall，withtheexceptionoftheItalianPrelati，andthephysicianofPoitou。Theseheretainedtoaidhimtodiscoverthesecretofthephilosopher’sstonebyaboldermethod。ThePoitousanhadpersuadedhimthatthedevilwasthegreatdepositaryofthatandallothersecrets，andthathewouldraisehimbeforeGilles，whomightenterintoanycontracthepleasedwithhim。Gillesexpressedhisreadiness，andpromisedtogivethedevilanythingbuthissoul，ordoanydeedthatthearch-enemymightimposeuponhim。Attendedsolelybythephysician，heproceededatmidnighttoawild-lookingplaceinaneighbouringforest；thephysiciandrewamagiccirclearoundthemonthesward，andmutteredforhalfanhouraninvocationtotheEvilSpirittoariseathisbidding，anddisclosethesecretsofalchymy。Gilleslookedonwithintenseinterest，andexpectedeverymomenttoseetheearthopen，anddelivertohisgazethegreatenemyofmankind。Atlasttheeyesofthephysicianbecamefixed，hishairstoodonend，andhespoke，asifaddressingthefiend。ButGillessawnothingexcepthiscompanion。Atlastthephysicianfelldownontheswardasifinsensible。Gilleslookedcalmlyontoseetheend。Afterafewminutesthephysicianarose，andaskedhimifhehadnotseenhowangrythedevillooked？
　　Gillesreplied，thathehadseennothing；uponwhichhiscompanioninformedhimthatBeelzebubhadappearedintheformofawildleopard，growledathimsavagely，andsaidnothing；andthatthereasonwhytheMarshalhadneitherseennorheardhim，wasthathehesitatedinhisownmindastodevotinghimselfentirelytotheservice。DeRaysownedthathehadindeedmisgivings，andinquiredwhatwastobedonetomakethedevilspeakout，andunfoldhissecret？Thephysicianreplied，thatsomepersonmustgotoSpainandAfricatocollectcertainherbswhichonlygrewinthosecountries，andofferedtogohimself，ifDeRayswouldprovidethenecessaryfunds。DeRaysatonceconsented；andthephysiciansetoutonthefollowingdaywithallthegoldthathisdupecouldsparehim。TheMarshalneversawhisfaceagain。
　　ButtheeagerLordofChamptocecouldnotrest。Goldwasnecessaryforhispleasures；andunless，bysupernaturalaid，hehadnomeansofprocuringmanyfurthersupplies。Thephysicianwashardlytwentyleaguesonhisjourney，beforeGillesresolvedtomakeanotherefforttoforcethedeviltodivulgetheartofgoldmaking。Hewentoutaloneforthatpurpose，butallhisconjurationswereofnoeffect。
　　Beelzebubwasobstinate，andwouldnotappear。Determinedtoconquerhimifhecould，heunbosomedhimselftotheItalianalchymist，Prelati。Thelatterofferedtoundertakethebusiness，uponconditionthatDeRaysdidnotinterfereintheconjurations，andconsentedbesidestofurnishhimwithallthecharmsandtalismansthatmightberequired。Hewasfurthertoopenaveininhisarm，andsignwithhisbloodacontractthathewouldworkthedevil’swillinallthings，andofferuptohimasacrificeoftheheart，lungs，hands，eyes，andbloodofayoungchild。Thegraspingmonomaniacmadenohesitation；
　　butagreedatoncetothedisgustingtermsproposedtohim。Onthefollowingnight，Prelatiwentoutalone；andafterhavingbeenabsentforthreeorfourhours，returnedtoGilles，whosatanxiouslyawaitinghim。Prelatitheninformedhimthathehadseenthedevilintheshapeofahandsomeyouthoftwenty。Hefurthersaid，thatthedevildesiredtobecalledBarroninallfutureinvocations；andhadshownhimagreatnumberofingotsofpuregold，buriedunderalargeoakintheneighbouringforest，allofwhich，andasmanymoreashedesired，shouldbecomethepropertyoftheMarechaldeRaysifheremainedfirm，andbrokenoconditionofthecontract。Prelatifurthershowedhimasmallcasketofblackdust，whichwouldturnironintogold；butastheprocesswasverytroublesome，headvisedthattheyshouldbecontentedwiththeingotstheyfoundundertheoaktree，andwhichwouldmorethansupplyallthewantsthatthemostextravagantimaginationcoulddesire。Theywerenot，however，toattempttolookforthegoldtillaperiodofseventimessevenweeks，ortheywouldfindnothingbutslatesandstonesfortheirpains。Gillesexpressedtheutmostchagrinanddisappointment，andatoncesaidthathecouldnotwaitforsolongaperiod；ifthedevilwerenotmoreprompt，Prelatimighttellhim，thattheMarechaldeRayswasnottobetrifledwith，andwoulddeclineallfurthercommunicationwithhim。