He comes Home like one frighted out of his Wits, and in a very mournful Tone cries out, O Balbinus I am utterly undone, undone; I am in Danger of my Life. Balbinus was astonished, and was impatient to know what was the Matter.  The Court, says he, have gotten an Inkling of what we have been about, and I expect nothing else but to be carried to Gaol immediately. Balbinus, at the hearing of this, turn’d pale as Ashes; for you know it is capital with us, for any Man to practice Alchymy without a License from the Prince:  He goes on:  Not, says he, that I am afraid of Death myself, I wish that were the worst that would happen, I fear something more cruel. Balbinus asking him what that was, he reply’d, I shall be carried away into some Castle, and there be forc’d to work all my Days, for those I have no Mind to serve.  Is there any Death so bad as such a Life?  The Matter was then debated, Balbinus being a Man that very well understood the Art of Rhetorick, casts his Thoughts every Way, if this Mischief could be prevented any Way.  Can’t you deny the Crime, says he?  By no Means, says the other; the Matter is known among the Courtiers, and they have such Proof of it that it can’t be evaded, and there is no defending of the Fact; for the Law is point-blank against it.  Many Things having been propos’d, but coming to no conclusion, that seem’d feasible; says the Alchymist, who wanted present Money, O Balbinus we apply ourselves to slow Counsels, when the Matter requires a present Remedy.  It will not be long before they will be here that will apprehend me, and carry me away into Tribulation.  And last of all, seeing Balbinus at a Stand, says the Alchymist, I am as much at a Loss as you, nor do I see any Way left, but to die like a Man, unless you shall approve what I am going to propose, which is more profitable than honourable; but Necessity is a hard Chapter.  You know these Sort of Men are hungry after Money, and so may be the more easily brib’d to Secrecy.  Although it is a hard Case to give these Rascals Money to throw away; but yet, as the Case now stands, I see no better Way. Balbinus was of the same Opinion, and he lays down thirty Guineas to bribe them to hush up the Matter.

Phi.  Balbinus was wonderful liberal, as you tell the Story.

La. Nay, in an honest Cause, you would sooner have gotten his Teeth out of his Head than Money.  Well, then the Alchymist was provided for, who was in no Danger, but that of wanting Money for his Wench.

Phi. I admire Balbinus could not smoak the Roguery all this While.

La. This is the only Thing that he’s soft in, he’s as sharp as a Needle in any Thing else.  Now the Furnace is set to work again with new Money; but first, a short Prayer is made to the Virgin Mary to prosper their Undertakings.  By this Time there had been a whole Year spent, first one Obstacle being pretended, and then another, so that all the Expence and Labour was lost.  In the mean Time there fell out one most ridiculous Chance.