Joseph Balsamo by Alexandre Dumas Read Free Book Online Page A

anything when I am working ? Water ? You see, Acharat, how this troubles my poor brain ! For six months nay, for a year I have been asking you for a funnel for my chimney. You never think of anything yet, what have you to do, you who are young ? Thanks to your neglect, it is now the rain, now the wind, which ruins all my operations : and yet, by Jupiter ! I have no time to lose. You know it the day decreed is near ; and if I am not ready for that day if I have not found the elixir of life farewell to the philosopher ! farewell to the wise Althotas ! My hundredth year begins on the loth of July, at eleven at night, and from this time to that my elixir must attain perfection.”
    ” But it is going on famously, dear master.”
    ” Yes, I have made some trials by absorption. My left arm, nearly paralyzed, has regained its power then, only eating, as I do, once in two or three days, and tak-ing a spoonful of my elixir, though yet imperfect, I have more time, and am assisted on by hope. Oh, when I think that I want but one plant, but one leaf of a plant, to perfect my elixir, and that we have perhaps passed by that plant a hundred five hundred a thousand times ! perhaps our horses have trodden it, our wheels crushed it, Acharat that very plant of which Pliny speaks, and which no sage has yet found or discovered, for nothing is lost. But say, Acharat, you must ask its name from Lorenza in one of her trances.”
    “Fear not, master, I will ask her.”
    ” Meantime,” said the philosopher, with a deep sigh, ” my elixir remains imperfect, and three times fifteen days will be necessary to reach the point at which I was to-day. Have a care, Acharat, your loss will be as great as mine,
     
    JOSEPH BALSAMO. 37
    if I die, and my work incomplete. But what voice is that ? Does the carriage move ? “
    “No, master : you hear thunder ‘
    ” Thunder ? “
    “Yes ; we have nearly all been killed by a thunderbolt ; but my silk coat protected me.”
    ” Now, see to what your childish freaks expose me, Acharat ! To die by a thunderbolt, to be stupidly killed by an electric fire that I would myself bring down from heaven, if I had time, to boil my pot this is not only exposing me to accidents which the malice or awkwardness of men bring on us, but to those which come from heaven, and which may be easily prevented.”
    “Your pardon, master ; I do not understand.”
    ” What, did I not explain to you my system of points my paper-kite conductor? When I have found my elixir, I shall tell it you again; but now, you see, I have not time.”
    “And you believe one may master the thunderbolt of heaven ? “
    ” Certainly ; not only master it, but conduct it where yon choose ; and when I have passed my second half century, when I shall have but calmly to await a third, I shall put a steel bridle on a thunderbolt, and guide it as easily as you do Djerid. Meantime, put a funnel on my chimney, I beg you ! “
    ” I shall. Eest easy.”
    ” I shall ; always the future, as if we could both look forward to the future. Oh, I shall never be understood !” cried the philosopher, writhing in his chair, and tossing his arms in despair. ” Be calm ! ‘ he tells me to be calm, and in three months, if I have not completed my elixir, all will be over. But so that I pass my second half century that I recover my powers of motion I shall meet no one who says, ‘I shall do’ I shall then myself exclaim, I have done ! ’”
    “Do you hope to say that ,with regard to our great work ? “
    ” Yes ; were I but as sure of oh, heavens ! discovering the elixir as I am of making the diamond I “
     
    38 JOSEPH BALSAMO,
    ; Then you are sure of that ? ” It is certain, since I have already made some.” Made some ? ” Yes ; look ! ” Where ? ” ‘ On your right, in the little glass vase.”
    The traveler anxiously seized the little crystal cup, to the bottom and sides of which adhered an almost impalpable powder.
    ” Diamond dust ? ” cried the young