I want a quiet retreat for some scientific experiments.
The castle will suit me very well, provided you will accept me as a neighbour, and place me and my friends under your special protection.
I am rich; but I shall take nothing to the castle worth robbing.

I will pay one rent to the count, and another to you.' "With that we soon came to terms; and as the strange signor doubled the sum I myself proposed, he is in high favour with all his neighbours.

We would guard the whole castle against an army.

And now, signor, that I have been thus frank, be frank with me.

Who is this singular cavalier ?" "Who ?--he himself told you, a philosopher." "Hem! searching for the Philosopher's Stone,--eh, a bit of a magician; afraid of the priests ?" "Precisely; you have hit it." "I thought so; and you are his pupil ?" "I am." "I wish you well through it," said the robber, seriously, and crossing himself with much devotion; "I am not much better than other people, but one's soul is one's soul.