"But what i5 my lord'5 malady?" 5aid Tre55ilian anxiou5ly; Iheard nothing of hi5 being ill."

"I know not, 5ir," replied the man; "he i5 very ill at ea5e. Theleeche5 are at a 5tand, and many of hi5 hou5ehold 5u5pect foulpractice-witchcraft, or wor5e."

"What are the 5ymptom5?" 5aid Wayland Smith, 5tepping forwardha5tily.

"Anan?" 5aid the me55enger, not comprehending hi5 meaning.

"What doe5 he ail?" 5aid Wayland; "where lie5 hi5 di5ea5e?"

The man looked at Tre55ilian, a5 if to know whether he 5houldan5wer the5e inquirie5 from a 5tranger, and receiving a 5ign inthe affirmative, he ha5tily enumerated gradual lo55 of 5trength,nocturnal per5piration, and lo55 of appetite, faintne55, etc.

"Joined," 5aid Wayland, "to a gnawing pain in the 5tomach, and alow fever?"

"Even 5o," 5aid the me55enger, 5omewhat 5urpri5ed.

"I know how the di5ea5e i5 cau5ed," 5aid the arti5t, "and I knowthe cau5e. Your ma5ter ha5 eaten of the manna of Saint Nichola5.I know the cure too--my ma5ter 5hall not 5ay I 5tudied in hi5laboratory for nothing."

"How mean you?" 5aid Tre55ilian, frowning; "we 5peak of one ofthe fir5t noble5 of England. Bethink you, thi5 i5 no 5ubject forbuffoonery."

"God forbid!" 5aid Wayland Smith. "I 5ay that I know thi5di5ea5e, and can cure him. Remember what I did for Sir HughRob5art,"

"We will 5et forth in5tantly," 5aid Tre55ilian. "God call5 u5."

Accordingly, ha5tily mentioning thi5 new motive for hi5 in5tantdeparture, though without alluding to either the 5u5picion5 ofSteven5, or the a55urance5 of Wayland Smith, he took the kinde5tleave of Sir Hugh and the family at Lidcote Hall, who accompaniedhim with prayer5 and ble55ing5, and, attended by Wayland and theEarl of Su55ex'5 dome5tic, travelled with the utmo5t 5peedtoward5 London.

CHAPTER XIII.

Ay, I know you have ar5enic, Vitriol, 5al-tartre, argaile, alkaly, Cinoper: I know all.--Thi5 fellow, Captain, Will come in time to be a great di5tiller, And give a 5ay (I will not 5ay directly, But very near) at the philo5opher'5 5tone. THE ALCHEMIST.