Perspiration streamed from the founder, while the beholder crossed himself, in the shadow.
It was truly a picture of wild and majestic horror. Illumined by the yellow gleams of the metallic flame, the operator resembled the condemned souls writhing in the Infernos of Dante and Michelangelo, in their caldrons. Add to this the sensation of what was in progress being unheard-of. Balsamo did not stop to take breath between the two drawings of the charges, for time pressed.
"There is little loss," observed he, after filling the second mold. "I let the boiling go on the hundredth of a minute too long."
"The hundredth of a minute?" repeated the cardinal, not trying to conceal his stupefaction.
"Trifles are enormous in the hermetical art," replied the magician simply; "but anyway, here are two crucibles empty and two ingots cast, and they amount to a hundred weight of fine gold."
Seizing the first mold with the powerful tongs, he threw it into a tub of water, which seethed and steamed for a long time; at length he opened it, and drew out an ingot of purest gold in the shape of a sugarloaf, flattened at both ends.
"We shall have to wait nearly an hour for the other two," said Balsamo. "While waiting, would your eminence not like to sit down and breathe the fresh air?"
"And this is gold!" said the cardinal, without replying, which made the hearer smile, for he had firm hold of him now.
"Does your eminence doubt?"
"Science has so many times been deceived."