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〃If I understood you rightly；〃 said I； 〃the experiment you ask me
to aid can be accomplished in a single night？〃
〃In a single nightthis night。〃
〃Command me。 Why not begin at once？ What apparatus or chemical
agencies do you need？〃
〃Ah！〃 said Margrave。 〃Formerly； how I was misled！ Formerly； how
my conjectures blundered！ I thought； when I asked you to give a
month to the experiment I wish to make； that I should need the
subtlest skill of the chemist。 I then believed； with Van Helmont；
that the principle of life is a gas； and that the secret was but in
the mode by which the gas might be rightly administered。 But now；
all that I need is contained in this coffer； save one very simple
materialfuel sufficient for a steady fire for six hours。 I see
even that is at hand； piled up in your outhouse。 And now for the
substance itselfto that you must guide me。〃
〃Explain。〃
〃Near this very spot is there not goldin mines yet undiscovered
and gold of the purest metal？〃
〃There is。 What then？ Do you； with the alchemists； blend in one
discovery； gold and life？〃
〃No。 But it is only where the chemistry of earth or of man
produces gold； that the substance from which the great pabulum of
life is extracted by ferment can be found。 Possibly； in the
attempts at that transmutation of metals； which I think your own
great chemist； Sir Humphry Davy； allowed might be possible； but
held not to be worth the cost of the processpossibly； in those
attempts； some scanty grains of this substance were found by the
alchemists； in the crucible； with grains of the metal as niggardly
yielded by pitiful mimicry of Nature's stupendous laboratory； and
from such grains enough of the essence might； perhaps； have been
drawn forth； to add a few years of existence to some feeble
graybeardgranting； what rests on no proofs； that some of the
alchemists reached an age rarely given to man。 But it is not in
the miserly crucible； it is in the matrix of Nature herself； that
we must seek in prolific abundance Nature's grand principlelife。
As the loadstone is rife with the magnetic virtue； as amber
contains the electric； so in this substance； to which we yet want a
name； is found the bright life…giving fluid。 In the old gold mines
of Asia and Europe the substance exists； but can rarely be met
with。 The soil for its nutriment may there be well nigh exhausted。
It is here； where Nature herself is all vital with youth； that the
nutriment of youth must be sought。 Near this spot is gold； guide
me to it。〃
〃You cannot come with me。 The place which I know as auriferous is
some miles distant； the way rugged。 You cannot walk to it。 It is
true I have horses； but〃
〃Do you think I have come this distance and not foreseen and
forestalled all that I want for my object？ Trouble yourself not
with conjectures how I can arrive at the place。 I have provided
the means to arrive at and leave it。 My litter and its bearers are
in reach of my call。 Give me your arm to the rising ground； fifty
yards from your door。〃
I obeyed mechanically； stifling all surprise。 I had made my
resolve； and admitted no thought that could shake it。
When we reached the summit of the grassy hillock； which sloped from
the road that led to the seaport； Margrave； after pausing to
recover breath； lifted up his voice； in a key； not loud； but shrill
and slow and prolonged； half cry and half chant； like the
nighthawk's。 Through the airso limpid and still； bringing near
far objects； far soundsthe voice pierced its way； artfully
pausing； till wave after wave of the atmosphere bore and
transmitted it on。
In a few minutes the call seemed re…echoed； so exactly； so
cheerily； that for the moment I thought that the note was the
mimicry of the shy mocking lyre bird； which mimics so merrily all
that it hears in its coverts； from the whir of the locust to the
howl of the wild dog。
〃What king；〃 said the mystical charmer； and as he spoke he
carelessly rested his hand on my shoulder； so that I trembled to
feel that this dread son of Nature； Godless and soulless； who had
beenand； my heart whispered； who still could bemy bane and mind
darkener； leaned upon me for support； as the spoiled younger…born
on his brother〃what king；〃 said this cynical mocker； with his
beautiful boyish face〃what king in your civilized Europe has the
sway of a chief of the East？ What link is so strong between mortal
and mortal as that between lord and slave？ I transport you poor
fools from the land of their birth； they preserve here their old
habitsobedience and awe。 They would wait till they starved in
the solitudewait to hearken and answer my call。 And I； who thus
rule them； or charm themI use and despise them。 They know that；
and yet serve me！ Between you and me； my philosopher； there is but
one thing worth living forlife for oneself。〃
Is it age； is it youth； that thus shocks all my sense； in my solemn
completeness of man？ Perhaps； in great capitals； young men of
pleasure will answer； 〃It is youth； and we think what he says！〃
Young friends； I do not believe you。
II
Along the grass track I saw now； under the moon； just risen； a
strange processionnever seen before in Australian pastures。 It
moved on； noiselessly but quickly。 We descended the hillock； and
met it on the way； a sable litter； borne by four men； in unfamiliar
Eastern garments； two other servitors； more bravely dressed； with
yataghans and silver…hilted pistols in their belts； preceded this
somber equipage。 Perhaps Margrave divined the disdainful thought
that passed through my mind； vaguely and half…unconsciously； for he
said with a hollow； bitter laugh that had replaced the lively peal
of his once melodious mirth：
〃A little leisure and a little gold； and your raw colonist； too；
will have the tastes of a pasha。〃
I made no answer。 I had ceased to care who and what was my
tempter。 To me his whole being was resolved into one problem： had
he a secret by which death could be turned from Lilian？
But now； as the litter halted； from the long； dark shadow which it
cast upon the turf； the figure of a woman emerged and stood before
us。 The outlines of her shape were lost in the loose folds of a
black mantle； and the features of her face were hidden by a black
veil； except only the dark…bright； solemn eyes。 Her stature was
lofty； her bearing majestic； whether in movement or repose。
Margrave accosted her in some language unknown to me。 She replied
in what seemed to me the same tongue。 The tones of her voice were
sweet； but inexpressibly mournful。 The words that they uttered
appeared intended to warn； or deprecate； or dissuade； but they
called to Margrave's brow a lowering frown； and drew from his lips
a burst of unmistakable anger。 The woman rejoined； in the same
melancholy music of voice。 And Margrave then； leaning his arm upon
her shoulder； as he had leaned it on mine；