The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 82: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

466 THE GOLD DELUGE. ‘Not at all,’’ Erik replied calmly ; ‘‘ the gold is genuine.’’ The privy councilor’s countenance assumed its benign expression again. ‘Certainly. You will pardon my misunderstanding you, even though for a second, The gold is critically tested before being accepted by the bank, and your gold was particularly fine.’’ | ‘Yes, it was simply chemically pure, for the reason that I made it by a chemical process.’’ “Oh, now I comprehend,’’ the councilor rejoined ; ‘‘ you mean to say that you obtained it from a kind of gold ore or gold salts—as I believe it is called in chemistry? And you found this salt in the earth, as only a chemist can , this is very interesting. May I ask whether this was in California?’ ‘' Pardon me, councilor, you misunderstand me entirely. I am not a gold digger, but a chemist only, and the gold I delivered to you is made from nitrate of bismuth by a rather simple process. In other words, I have dis- covered a means of converting a base substance into pure gold !”’ The privy councilor raised his eyebrows in astonishment and stared fixedly at Erik, but as the latter remained perfectly calm and did not move a muscle, the councilor’s eyes wandered away. Irresolution as to what to say pic- tured itself in his looks, and an extremely painful pause ensued. ‘‘ My dear ein”? Bue councilor went on at length, attempting to assume a very severe (oak: ‘are you serious? Fositively serious ??? ‘“Yes,’’ Erik answered, ‘‘I am, and I will offer to give you the evidence if you wish it. Lock me in the laboratory or any other place, and provided I have the necessary apparatus at my disposal, I will convert as much bismuth as you wish into gold.’’ ‘‘Hm,’’? mumbled the councilor. ‘‘ Is it agreeable for you to proceed with me to Hngelsted’s laboratory immediately? Good.’’ While they proceeded to the place designated, Erik attempted to open a conversation, but was unsuccessful. The councilor replied politely, but evasively and reservedly, while he at times surveyed Erik sharply with side- long glances. Arrived at the laboratory, Erik was conducted to a small room, and upon his request the privy councilor and the chief chemist, Engel- sted, searched him to assure themselves that he had no other gold in his possession except the small phial mentioned. Watchers were posted at the doors and windows. ‘The privy councilor was in a quandary as to what to think and Engelsted laughed softly to himself, appey his head with his index finger in a suggestive manner. The necessary instruments and chemicals, among them a large glass jar containing chemically pure nitrate of bismuth, a small glass containing cobalt carbonate, together with other substances and instruments, were placed in the room ; also the positive and negative wires from a galvanic battery of twenty elements were conducted into the room. The door was locked, and the “‘ gold maker’’ left to himself. | Late in the afternoon Erik’s work was completed, and he called the others. The privy councilor, who had meantime taken a walk into town, was some- what feverish and excited, and the head of the laboratory appeared to be supercilious and sarcastic.