shall be of
no avail when the object of my research is accomplished. Hast thou not
heard of the supreme elixir--the pabulum of life, which, if a man find,
he may renew his years, and bid defiance alike to time and the
destroyer? Then what will become of thy boasted system of opinions,
begotten by priesthood and nurtured by folly?"

"And this phantasma, which man has never seen; which exists not upon the
least shadow of evidence--which has not even the lowest dictates of
sense and plausibility in its favour--on this _Ignis fatuus_, eluding
the grasp, and for ever mocking the folly of its pursuers, thou canst
build thine hopes, because it flatters thy wishes and thy fears?"

"My fears!" said the Baron, rising: "and who speaks of my _fears_? I
would chastise thee, thou insolent priest, wert thou not protected by
the laws of courtesy."

"Yes, _thy_ fears, Baron Monteagle," said this undaunted minister of the
truth. "Thou wouldest not care to face thy lady's cousin! His blood yet
crieth from the ground!"

"And who dares whisper, even to the walls, that I murdered John
Harrington?" cried the astonished adept, trembling with ill-suppressed
rage. "Methinks he holdeth his life too cheap who doth let this foul
suspicion even rest upon his thoughts." He drew his sword as he spoke;
but the minister stood undaunted, surveying his adversary with a look of
pity and commiseration.

"Put up thy sword. Thou hast enow of sins to repent thee of without an
old man's blood added to the number."

"How hast thou dared this insult? By my "----

"Nay, spare your oaths, my lord; they are better unspoken than unkept."

"Have I sent for thee to make sport? To gibe and taunt me even to my
face?"

"I'll tell thee for what cause thou didst crave my presence," replied
the other, firmly. "Thou hast misgivings lest thine own hopes should not
be true; lest thou shouldest perchance depart with a lie in thy right
hand. Thou didst send for me, an unworthy minister to the faith which I
profess, that by thy subtlety thou mightest deceive thyself; that by
overthrowing my arguments thine own might be strengthened, for truly
'tis a comfortable thing to have our opinions confirmed through the
weakness of an opponent."

"And daredst thou, with such apprehensions upon thy stomach, to commit
thyself alone to my mercy and my keeping? Suppose I should reward thee
according to thine own base suspicions. Understandest thou me?"

"Yes, proud and guilty man,