The Golden Ingot by Fitzjames O'Brien
Section [1 | 2]
whose youth was burdened with_such an awful sorrow .

" what_is your_name ? " I asked the old man, taking his tremulous, fevered hand in mine .

"William Blakelock," he answered ."I come of an old Saxon stock, sir, that bred true men_and_women in former days . god ! how did it ever come to_pass that such a one as_that girl ever sprung from_our line ? " the glance of loathing and contempt that he cast at her made me shudder .

" may you not be mistaken in your daughter ? " I_said, very mildly ."Delusions with regard to alchemy are, or have_been, very common--"

" what, sir ? " cried the old man, bounding in_his bed ." what ? do_you doubt that gold can_be made ? do_you_know, sir, that M .C . Theodore Tiffereau made gold at Paris in_the year 1854 in_the presence of M .Levol, the assayer of_the imperial mint, and_the result of_the experiments was read before_the academy of Sciences on_the sixteenth of October of_the same year ? but stay; you_shall_have better proof yet . i_will pay you with one of_my ingots, and you shall attend me until I_am well . get me an ingot ! "

this last command was addressed to Marion, who was still kneeling close to her father's bedside .I observed her with some curiosity as_this mandate was issued . she became very pale, clasped her hands convulsively, but neither moved nor made any reply .

" get me an ingot, I_say ! " reiterated the alchemist passionately .

she fixed her large eyes imploringly upon him . her lips quivered, and two huge tears rolled slowly down her white cheeks .

" obey me, wretched girl," cried the old man in an agitated voice, " or I swear, by all that I reverence in heaven and earth, that i_will lay my curse upon you forever ! "

I_felt for an instant that I ought perhaps to interfere, and spare the girl the anguish that she was so evidently suffering; but a powerful curiosity to_see how this strange scene would terminate withheld me .

the last threat of her father, uttered as it_was with a terrible vehemence, seemed to appall Marion . she rose with a sudden leap, as_if a serpent had stung her, and, rushing into an inner apartment, returned with a small object which she placed in my hand, and then flung herself in a chair in a distant corner of_the room, weeping bitterly .

" you_see-- you_see," said the old man sarcastically, " how reluctantly she parts with it . take it, sir; it_is yours ."

it_was a small bar of metal .I examined it carefully, poised it in my hand-- the color, weight, everything, announced that_it really was gold .

" you doubt its genuineness, perhaps," continued the alchemist ." there_are acids on yonder table-- test it ."

I confess that I_did doubt its genuineness; but after I had acted upon_the old man's suggestion, all further suspicion was rendered impossible . it_was gold of_the highest purity . i_was astounded . was then, after all, this man's tale a truth ? was his daughter, that fair, angelic- looking creature, a demon of avarice, or a slave to worse passions ? I_felt bewildered .I had never met with anything so incomprehensible .I looked from father to daughter in_the blankest amazement .I suppose that my countenance betrayed my astonishment, for_the old man said: "I perceive that you_are surprised . well, that_is natural . you had a right to_think me mad until I proved myself sane ."

" but, Mr Blakelock," I_said, "I really cannot take this gold . I_have no right to_it . I_cannot in justice charge so large a fee ."

" take it-- take it," he answered impatiently; " your fee will amount to_that before I_am well . besides," he added mysteriously, " i_wish to secure your friendship . i_wish that you_should protect me from her," and he pointed his poor, bandaged hand at Marion .

my eyes followed his gesture, and I caught the glance that replied-- a glance of horror, distrust, despair . the beautiful face was distorted into positive ugliness .

" it's all true," i_thought; " she is_the demon that her father represents her ."

I now rose to_go . this domestic tragedy sickened me . this treachery of blood against blood was too horrible to witness . i_wrote a prescription for_the old man, left directions as_to_the renewal of_the dressings upon his Burns, and, bidding him good night, hastened toward the door .

while i_was fumbling on_the dark, crazy landing for_the staircase, I_felt a hand laid on my arm .

" doctor," whispered a voice that I recognized as Marion Blakelock's, " doctor, have_you any compassion in your heart ? "

" I_hope so," I answered shortly, shaking off her hand; her touch filled me with loathing .

" hush ! don't talk so loud . if_you_have any pity in your nature, give_me back, I entreat of you, that gold ingot which my father gave_you this evening ."

" great heaven ! " said I, " can it be possible that so fair a woman can_be such a mercenary, shameless wretch ? "

"Ah ! you_know not-- I_cannot tell you ! do_not judge me harshly .I call god to witness that I_am not what you deem me . some day or other you_will know . but," she added, interrupting herself, " the ingot-- where is_it ? I_must_have it . my life depends on_your giving it to_me ."

" take it, impostor ! " I cried, placing it in her hand, that closed on_it with a horrible eagerness ."I never intended to_keep it . gold made under the same roof that covers such as_you_must_be accursed ."

so saying, heedless of_the nervous effort she made to detain me, I stumbled down the stairs and walked hastily home .

the next morning, while i_was in my office, smoking my matutinal cigar, and speculating over the singular character of_my acquaintances of last night, the door opened, and Marion Blakelock entered . she had the same look of terror that I had observed the evening before, and she panted as_if she had_been running fast .

" father has got out of bed," she gasped out, " and insists on going on with_his alchemy . will it kill him ? "

" not exactly," I answered coldly ." it were better that he kept quiet, so as_to avoid the chance of inflammation . however, you need_not_be alarmed; his Burns are_not at all dangerous, although painful ."

" thank god ! thank god ! " she cried, in_the most impassioned accents; and, before i_was aware of what she was doing, she seized my hand and kissed it .

" there, that_will do," I_said, withdrawing my hand; " you_are under no obligations to_me . you had better go back to your father ."

" I_can't go," she answered ." you despise me-- is_it not so ? "

I_made no reply .

" you_think me a monster--a criminal . when_you went home last night, you were wonderstruck that so vile a creature as i_should_have so fair a face ."

" you embarrass me, madam," I_said, in a most chilling tone ." pray relieve me from_this unpleasant position ."

" wait . I_cannot bear that you_should think ill of me . you_are good and kind, and I_desire to possess your esteem . you little know how I love my father ."

I_could_not restrain a bitter smile .

" you_do_not believe that ? well, i_will convince you . I_have_had a hard struggle all last night with myself, but am now resolved . this life of deceit must continue no longer . will_you hear my vindication ? "

I assented . the wonderful melody of her voice and_the purity of her features were charming me once more .I half believed in her innocence already .

" my father has told you a portion of_his history . but he_did_not tell you that his continued failures in_his search after_the secret of metallic transmutation nearly killed him . two years_ago he_was on_the verge of_the grave, working every day at his mad pursuit, and every day growing weaker and more emaciated . I_saw that if his mind was not relieved in some way he_would die . the thought was madness to_me, for I loved him--I love him still, as a daughter never loved a father before . during all these years of poverty I had supported the house with my needle; it_was hard work, but I_did it--I do_it still ! "

" what ? " I cried, startled, " does_not--"

" patience . hear me out . my father was dying of disappointment . I_must save him . by incredible exertions, working night and day, I saved about thirty-five dollars in notes . these I exchanged for gold, and one day, when my father was not looking, I cast them into_the crucible in_which he_was making one of_his vain attempts at transmutation . god, I_am_sure, will pardon the deception .I never anticipated the misery it would lead to .

"I never beheld anything like the joy of_my poor father, when, after emptying his crucible, he_found a deposit of pure gold at_the bottom . he wept, and danced, and sang, and built such castles in_the air, that my brain was dizzy to hear him . he_gave me the ingot to_keep, and went to work at his alchemy with renewed vigor . the same thing occurred . he always found the same quantity of gold in_his crucible .I alone knew the secret . he_was happy, poor man, for nearly two years, in_the belief that he_was amassing a fortune .I all the while plied my needle for_our daily bread . when he asked me for_the savings, the first stroke fell upon me . then it was_that I recognized the folly of_my conduct . I_could give him no money .I never had any-- while he believed that I had fourteen thousand dollars . my heart was nearly broken when I_found that he had conceived the most injurious suspicions against me . yet I_could_not blame him . I_could give no account of_the treasure I had permitted him to_believe was in my possession . I_must suffer the penalty of_my fault, for to undeceive him would_be, I_felt, to kill him .I remained silent then, and suffered .

" you_know the rest . you now know why it was_that i_was reluctant to_give_you that ingot-- why it was_that I degraded myself so_far as_to ask it back . it was_the only means I had of continuing a deception on_which I believed my father's life depended . but that delusion has_been dispelled . I_can live this life of hypocrisy no longer . I_cannot exist and hear my father, whom I love so, wither me daily with_his curses . i_will undeceive him this very day . will_you come with me, for I_fear the effect on_his enfeebled frame ? "

" willingly," I answered, taking her by_the hand; " and i_think that no absolute danger need be apprehended . now, Marion," I added, " let me ask forgiveness for having even for a moment wounded so noble a heart . you_are truly as great a martyr as any of_those whose sufferings the church perpetuates in altar-pieces ."

" I_knew you_would do me justice when_you knew all," she sobbed, pressing my hand; " but come . I_am on fire . let_us hasten to my father, and break this terror to him ."

when we reached the old alchemist's room, we_found him busily engaged over a crucible which_was placed on a small furnace, and in_which some indescribable mixture was boiling . he looked up as_we entered .

" no fear of me, doctor," he_said, with a ghastly smile, " no fear; I_must not allow a little physical pain to interrupt my great work, you_know . by_the_way, you_are just in_time . in a few_moments the marriage of_the red king and white queen will_be accomplished, as George Ripley calls the great act, in_his book entitled ' the Twelve Gates .' yes, doctor, in less_than ten minutes you_will_see me make pure, red, shining gold ! " and_the poor old man smiled triumphantly, and stirred his foolish mixture with a long rod, which he held with difficulty in_his bandaged hands . it_was a grievous sight for a man of any feeling to witness .

" father," said Marion, in a low, broken voice, advancing a little toward the poor old dupe, " i_want your forgiveness ."

"Ah, hypocrite ! for what ? are_you going to_give_me back my gold ? "

" no, father, but for_the deception that I_have_been practicing on you for two years--"

" I_knew it ! I_knew it ! " shouted the old man, with a radiant countenance ." she has concealed my fourteen thousand dollars all this_time, and now comes to restore them . i_will forgive her . where are they, Marion ? "

" father-- it must come out . you never made any gold . it_was I who saved up thirty-five dollars, and I used to slip them into your crucible when your back was turned-- and I_did it only because I_saw that you were dying of disappointment . it_was wrong, I_know-- but, father, I meant well . you'll forgive me, won't you ? " and_the poor girl advanced a step toward the alchemist .

he grew deathly pale, and staggered as_if about to_fall . the next instant, though, he recovered himself, and burst into a horrible sardonic laugh . then he_said, in tones full of_the bitterest irony: "A conspiracy, is_it ? well done, doctor ! you_think to reconcile me with_this wretched girl by trumping up this story that I_have_been for two years a dupe of her filial piety . it's clumsy, doctor, and_is a total failure . try again ."

" but I assure you, Mr Blakelock," I_said as earnestly as I_could, "I believe your daughter's statement to_be perfectly true . you_will_find it to_be so, as she has got the ingot in her possession which so often deceived you into_the belief that you_made gold, and you_will certainly find that no transmutation has taken place in your crucible ."

" doctor," said the old man, in tones of_the most settled conviction, " you_are a fool . the girl has wheedled you . in less_than a minute i_will turn you out a piece of gold purer than any the earth produces . will that convince you ? "

" that_will convince me," I answered . by a gesture I imposed silence on Marion, who was about to_speak . i_thought it better to allow the old man to_be his own undeceiver-- and we awaited the coming crisis .

the old man, still smiling with anticipated triumph, kept bending eagerly over his crucible, stirring the mixture with_his rod, and muttering to himself all the time ." now," I heard him say, " it changes . there-- there's the scum . and now the green and bronze shades flit across it .Oh, the beautiful green ! the precursor of_the golden- red hue that tells of_the end attained ! Ah ! now the golden- red is coming-- slowly-- slowly ! it deepens, it shines, it_is dazzling ! Ah, I_have it ! " so saying, he caught up his crucible in a chemist's tongs, and bore it slowly toward the table on_which stood a brass vessel .

" now, incredulous doctor ! " he cried, " come and be convinced," and immediately began carefully pouring the contents of_the crucible into_the brass vessel . when_the crucible was quite empty he turned it up and called me again ." come, doctor, come and be convinced . see for_yourself ."

" see first if_there_is any gold in your crucible," I answered, without moving .

he laughed, shook his head derisively, and looked into_the crucible . in a moment he grew pale as death .

" nothing ! " he cried ."Oh, a jest, a jest ! there_must_be gold somewhere . Marion ! "

" the gold is here, father," said Marion, drawing the ingot from her pocket; " it_is all we ever had ."

"Ah ! " shrieked the poor old man, as he let the empty crucible fall, and staggered toward the ingot which Marion held out to him . he_made three steps, and then fell on_his face . Marion rushed toward him, and tried to lift him, but could_not .I put her aside gently, and placed my hand on_his heart .

" Marion," said I, " it_is perhaps better as_it_is . he_is dead ! "

Section [1 | 2]