"Let us first find the gold, and instead of describing the life-
amber, so let me call it, I will point it out to your own eyes. As
to the process, your share in it is so simple that you will ask me
why I seek aid from a chemist. The life-amber, when found, has but
to be subjected to heat and fermentation for six hours; it will be
placed in a small caldron which that coffer contains, over the fire
which that fuel will feed. To give effect to the process, certain
alkalies and other ingredients are required; but these are
prepared, and mine is the task to commingle them. From your
science as chemist I need and ask naught. In you I have sought
only the aid of a man."

"If that be so, why, indeed, seek me at all? Why not confide in
those swarthy attendants, who doubtless are slaves to your orders?"

"Confide in slaves, when the first task enjoined to them would be
to discover, and refrain from purloining gold! Seven such
unscrupulous knaves, or even one such, and I, thus defenseless and
feeble! Such is not the work that wise masters confide to fierce
slaves. But that is the least of the reasons which exclude them
from my choice, and fix my choice of assistant on you. Do you
forget what I told you of the danger which the Dervish declared no
bribe I could offer could tempt him a second time to brave?"

"I remember now; those words had passed away from my mind."

"And because they had passed away from your mind, I chose you for
my comrade. I need a man by whom danger is scorned."

"But in the process of which you tell me I see no possible danger