"Take thy sword and buckler, and follow me, then," said Tressilian; "I

am about to walk myself, and we will go in company."

This he said, because he was not altogether so secure of the fidelity

of his new retainer as to lose sight of him at this interesting moment,

when rival factions at the court of Elizabeth were running so high.

Wayland Smith willingly acquiesced in the precaution, of which he

probably conjectured the motive, but only stipulated that his master

should enter the shops of such chemists or apothecaries as he should

point out, in walking through Fleet Street, and permit him to make some

necessary purchases. Tressilian agreed, and obeying the signal of his

attendant, walked successively into more than four or five shops, where

he observed that Wayland purchased in each only one single drug, in

various quantities. The medicines which he first asked for were readily

furnished, each in succession, but those which he afterwards required

were less easily supplied; and Tressilian observed that Wayland more

than once, to the surprise of the shopkeeper, returned the gum or herb

that was offered to him, and compelled him to exchange it for the right

sort, or else went on to seek it elsewhere. But one ingredient, in

particular, seemed almost impossible to be found. Some chemists plainly

admitted they had never seen it; others denied that such a drug existed,

excepting in the imagination of crazy alchemists; and most of them

attempted to satisfy their customer, by producing some substitute,

which, when rejected by Wayland, as not being what he had asked

for, they maintained possessed, in a superior degree, the self-same

qualities. In general they all displayed some curiosity concerning the

purpose for which he wanted it. One old, meagre chemist, to whom

the artist put the usual question, in terms which Tressilian neither

understood nor could recollect, answered frankly, there was none of that

drug in London, unless Yoglan the Jew chanced to have some of it upon

hand.

"I thought as much," said Wayland. And as soon as they left the shop,

he said to Tressilian, "I crave your pardon, sir, but no artist can work

without his tools. I must needs go to this Yoglan's; and I promise you,

that if this detains you longer than your leisure seems to permit, you

shall, nevertheless, be well repaid by the use I will make of this rare

drug. Permit me," he added, "to walk before you, for we are now to quit

the broad street and we will make double speed if I lead the way."




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