Page 261 - The Grotesque Children's Book
P. 261
“Yes. The goat represents lust. Its eyes might be the jewels which are lusted over. The
salamander is sulphur.”
“Sulphur....”
“Much needed in the changing of lead into gold. When we depict a picture of a
salamander on fire, or a fire-emitting salamander --”
“Yes, yes, I've seen that picture!” said Francesco, his eyes glowing. “What does it
mean...are you saying it's merely alchemical code for 'heat yourself up a batch of sulphur'?”
“That's correct. An approximation, but correct.”
“But why not simply write out instructions? Step one, heat up sulphur. Step two, stir in
some wine or whatever it is. Step three, pour over the lead, and so on. Why be so secret about it
with dubious pictures of burning salamanders?”
“Think about it, sire. What would you do if you had such instructions how to turn lead
into gold, written out so clearly as all that?”
“Why, I'd make all the gold in the world. I'd turn everything into gold. I'd make a palace
entirely of -- oh!, I see. Clever alchemists, you. Cloaking everything in secrecy so as to control
the wealth.”
“Not so much the wealth, sire, as the Knowledge. It's very much the same as you and
your Swan. How many people do you want to know of your plans for her?”
The Duke's voice got serious and low. “Now see here, Zaccario. Let me remind you. I
have no plans for my Swan. I'll not touch a feather on her back. I'll have nothing to do with that.
I am looking for a Huntsman. Are you that Huntsman, Zaccario?”
“Is there...is there fish in it for me?”
“Fish?”
“Fish with scales. Bright shiny scales. Bright shiny valuable scales.”
A pause. “Ah. Yes. There would be fish. How --” another pause, “how would it be
done?”
“There is a flower, sire, called foxglove. Perhaps you know it. Often red in color. It can
be dried, and ground into a fine powder. Odorless. Tasteless. But lethal to swans.”
“Lethal.”
“To swans.”
“Do you know where to get this powder of foxglove?”
“My apprentices, in fact, are distilling some even as we speak.”
“Is that it, then? Have we been clear?” asked the Duke. “You're to feed the Swan some
foxglove in return for fish.”
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