"I took some elixir a couple of hours ago."
"Nay, that was at six this morning, and it is now the
afternoon."
"Another day gone, fled and lost," moaned the alchemist, wringing his hands; "are they not growing shorter? Have they less than four-and-twenty hours?"
"If you will not eat, at least take a nap."
"When I sleep, I am afraid I shall never wake. If I lie down for two hours, you will come and call me, Acharat," said the old man in a coaxing
voice.
"I swear I will, master."
At this point they heard the gallop of a horse and a scream of astonishment and disquiet.
"What does that mean?" questioned the traveler, quickly opening the door, and leaping out on the road without using the steps.