CHAPTER SECOND.
-- And this Doctor, Your sooty smoky-bearded compeer, he Will close you so much gold in a bolt's head, And, on a turn, convey in the stead another With sublimed mercury, that shall burst i' the heat, And all fly out in fumo .-- The Alchemist.
"How do you do, goot Mr.Oldenbuck?
and I do hope your young gentleman, Captain M'Intyre, is getting better again?
Ach! it is a bat business when young gentlemens will put lead balls into each other's body." "Lead adventures of all kinds are very precarious, Mr.Dousterswivel; but I am happy to learn," continued the Antiquary, "from my friend Sir Arthur, that you have taken up a better trade, and become a discoverer of gold." "Ach, Mr.Oldenbuck, mine goot and honoured patron should not have told a word about dat little matter; for, though I have all reliance--yes, indeed, on goot Mr.Oldenbuck's prudence and discretion, and his great friendship for Sir Arthur Wardour--yet, my heavens! it is an great ponderous secret." "More ponderous than any of the metal we shall make by it, I fear," answered Oldbuck.
"Dat is just as you shall have de faith and de patience for de grand experiment--If you join wid Sir Arthur, as he is put one hundred and fifty--see, here is one fifty in your dirty Fairport bank-note--you put one other hundred and fifty in de dirty notes, and you shall have de pure gold and silver, I cannot tell how much." "Nor any one for you, I believe," said the Antiquary.

"But, hark you, Mr.Dousterswivel: Suppose, without troubling this same sneezing spirit with any farther fumigations, we should go in a body, and having fair day-light and our good consciences to befriend us, using no other conjuring implements than good substantial pick-axes and shovels, fairly trench the area of the chancel in the ruins of St.Ruth, from one end to the other, and so ascertain the existence of this supposed treasure, without putting ourselves to any farther expense--the ruins belong to Sir Arthur himself, so there can be no objection--do you think we shall succeed in this way of managing the matter ?" "Bah!--you will not find one copper thimble--But Sir Arthur will do his pleasure.

I have showed him how it is possible--very possible--to have de great sum of money for his occasions--I have showed him de real experiment.

If he likes not to believe, goot Mr.Oldenbuck, it is nothing to Herman Dousterswivel--he only loses de money and de gold and de silvers--dat is all." Sir Arthur Wardour cast an intimidated glance at Oldbuck who, especially when present, held, notwithstanding their frequent difference of opinion, no ordinary influence over his sentiments.

In truth, the Baronet felt, what he would not willingly have acknowledged, that his genius stood rebuked before that of the Antiquary.