He was now approaching the age of fifty, and had as yet seen
nothing of the world. He, therefore, determined to travel through
Germany, Italy, France, and Spain. Wherever he stopped he made
inquiries whether there were any alchymists in the neighbourhood. He
invariably sought them out; and, if they were poor, relieved, and, if
affluent, encouraged them. At Citeaux he became acquainted with one
Geoffrey Leuvier, a monk of that place, who persuaded him that the
essence of egg-shells was a valuable ingredient. He tried, therefore,
what could be done; and was only prevented from wasting a year or two
on the experiment by the opinions of an attorney, at Berghem, in
Flanders, who said that the great secret resided in vinegar and
copperas. He was not convinced of the absurdity of this idea until he
had nearly poisoned himself. He resided in France for about five
years, when, hearing accidentally that one Master Henry, confessor to
the Emperor Frederic III, had discovered the philosopher's stone, he
set out for Germany to pay him a visit. He had, as usual, surrounded
himself with a set of hungry dependants, several of whom determined to
accompany him. He had not heart to refuse them, and he arrived at
Vienna with five of them. Bernard sent a polite invitation to the
confessor, and gave him a sumptuous entertainment, at which were
present nearly all the alchymists of Vienna. Master Henry frankly
confessed that he had not discovered the philosopher's stone, but that
he had all his life been employed in searching for it, and would so
continue, till he found it; -- or died. This was a man after Bernard's
own heart, and they vowed with each other an eternal friendship. It
was resolved, at supper, that each alchymist present should contribute
a certain sum towards raising forty-two marks of gold, which, in five
days, it was confidently asserted by Master Henry, would increase, in
his furnace, five fold. Bernard, being the richest man, contributed
the lion's share, ten marks of gold, Master Henry five, and the others