The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

476 THE GOLD DELUGE. compare with the name and fame the future had in store for him, because whether he would or not—could he keep silent forever? Whatever offer the future might bring he would have only one answer. ‘There was a ring in his words which also enthused his wife and caused her to look up to him admir. ingly. A new, overwhelming feeling of the responsibilities and the duties incumbent upon the wife of a great man, awakened within her. The one whom she had chosen as master of her heart had been selected by fate for something still higher ; to be the most powerful man in the world, because it had made him the master of the greatest power governing the world—gold/ An emperor’s crown was made of simple gold. On the day when he had penetrated the secret of that substance he himself became king, and now her heart bowed before him and she paid homage to him—her king. Erik read her thoughts in her eyes, and on reaching the hotel sat down at the writing table to reply to the chancellor. He made no attempt at stating any reason for his negative answer, and his letter contained nothing else than a plain, short ‘‘ No.”’ | That same evening Erik and his wife prepared to leave the city. Their destination was an uncertainty to themselves as yet. There certainly was no good reason for staying one moment longer in Berlin, where every step they made was watched. They had no cause to regret their prompt decision ; they had hardly arisen the following morning when a police officer, in high standing apparently, knocked at their door and notified them that their presence in the city had been found ‘‘ objectionable,’’ and that they had been expelled from Prussia they were told to leave Berlin within twelve hours. | “‘ Berlin has also become very objectionable to me! ”’ replied Erik, bowing stiffly to the officer, and straightway departed for Paris. He now regretted that he had not at once proceeded there. If he had a fair chance anywhere to publicly announce his discovery, it would be in a free republic. He and his wife were much pleased with the gay city. ‘The peculiarly exhilarating air and the artistic traits of the populace, noticeable every- where, even in the smallest details—all this captured him completely. His intention was to visit Ducis, the renowned chemist, and editor of the Journal Chimique, to explain his discovery to him, and to beg him to publish the facts in his journal. Ducis was an apostle of science to the very finger tips, and if the world were to collapse over his head, he would be true to his voca- tion. If the news were once safe within the columns of that journal, which reached chemists the world over, then the gentlemen of the several] Euro- pean governments would, nilly willy, have to make the best of the dilemma. Krik no longer felt himself to be under surveillance, and the next day after his arrival he was on_ his way to find Ducis. He expected to be re- ceived with open arms, and have all done that human power could do to re- move the silly impediments placed in his way by others. Here was the place ; here resided the renowned man, to whom Erik had looked up for so many years. Now he was to meet his equal ! He reached for the bell, when he was interrupted by a gentleman with GEomichook 3