eve, has the power of prolonging life. I
brought with me to Europe specimens and seeds of the plant (peculiar to
the region) from which the simple is distilled, analyzed the one and
cultivated the other. The conclusion at which I arrived was, that the
plant in question did actually possess the property of retarding that
softening of the arteries which more than anything else causes the
decrepitude of old age. It contains a peculiar alkaloid of which, for
thirty years past, I had taken (in solution) a much-diluted dose almost
daily. You see the result. I also give Ramon an occasional dose, and he is
the most vigorous man of his years I know. I sent some to Giessler, but he
said it was an empirical remedy, and declined to take it. He preferred
electric baths. I take my electric baths by horseback exercise, and riding
to hounds.

Yes, I believe I shall finish my century--without becoming senile either
in body or mind--if I can escape the Griscelli. I was in hopes that I had
escaped them by coming here; but I never stay long in Europe that they
don't sooner or later find me out. I think I shall have to spend the
remainder of my life in America or the East. The consciousness of being
continually hunted, that at any moment I may be confronted with a murderer
and perchance be murdered, is too trying for a man of my age. To tell the
truth, I am beginning to feel that I have nerves; though my elixir delays
death, it does not insure perpetual youth; and propitiating these people
is out of the question--I have tried it.

Three years after my return from Venezuela, Guiseppe, son of the man whom
I killed at Caracas, tried to kill me at Amsterdam, fired at me
point-blank with a duelling pistol, and so nearly succeeded that the
bullet grazed my cheek and cut a piece out of my ear. Yet I not only
pardoned him, but bribed the police to let him go, and gave him money.
Well, seven years later he repeated the attempt at Naples, waylaid me at
night and attacked me with a dagger, but I also happened to be armed, and
Guiseppi Griscelli died.

At Paris, too--indeed, while the empire lasted--I found it expedient to
shun France altogether. At that time Corsicans were greatly in favor;
several members of the Griscelli family belonged to the secret police and
had great influence, and as I never took an _alias_ and my name is not
common, I was tracked like a criminal. Once I had to leave Paris by
stealth at dead of night; another time I saved my