drew the crucibles, tongs, bellows, and charcoal, as well as 

 the litharge, orpiment, borax and salt required for the 

 experiment. Rudolph, who was not without experience in 

 manipulation, preceded in the usual fashion, and under his 

 direction the fire was pushed to a white heat; then as 

 previously agreed, all persons withdrew from the laboratory 

 for one hour so that the spirits whom Sir Edward had in- 

 voked might work their will undisturbed. No sooner had the 

 door been locked and sealed by the Emperor himself, than 

 young Kelley crawled out of his hiding-place, stepped quickly 

 to the furnace, threw into the crucible a quantity of gold- 

 filings and returned to his tool-box, the hinged partition 

 closing after him. The instant the hour had elapsed the 

 royal party broke the seal, unbolted the door, and reentering 

 the apartment found that nothing had been disturbed. The 

 fire was replenished with coals and maintained at great 

 intensity for some time and then allowed to die down ; the 

 crucible was cooled and broken with a heavy hammer, in the 

 bottom lay a bright button of gold delighting all beholders. 

 The Emperor was confirmed in his belief that in the Golden 

 Knight he had a prodigy, and Kelley perceived that his 

 brother made an excellent conspirator. As soon as convenient 

 the wooden box was removed to Kelley 's private house and 

 the prisoner was liberated from his uncomfortable retreat. 



Fully three years Sir Edward lived in imperial favor, 

 busy day and night either in the Hradschiner laboratories or 

 in gossiping and carousing with boon companions at the 

 Golden Ball. He was permitted to make occasional visits to 

 Prince von Rosenberg at his estates near Krumau, and 

 authorities affirm that the Englishman swindled the Bohemian 

 out of the enormous sum of three hundred thousand florins ; 

 this is in part sustained by the fact that the foreigner acquired 

 valuable landed estates in the kingdom. Kelley lived in lavish 



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