Therefore the boy must spare a few more drops of his blood, and he will do so gladly if he receives something pretty as a reward.

I am very skilful and can draw the blood without hurting him." When, however, Frau Schimmel clasped her hands, and Zeno, whimpering, hid his face in her skirts, the doctor hastened to add: "There, there, I am not going to do it at once, and perhaps it is just as well that I should experiment with my own blood first.

So take the boy out and buy him the finest plaything you can find, and leave a message at Herr Winckler's; he is to come to-day to The Three Kings, for I have something very important to communicate to him." The old lady was very glad to get the child beyond the reach of his father.

His happiness was as incomprehensible to her, as his design on the blood of his child was dreadful, and she led the boy forth quickly.
The doctor, however, went into the laboratory with wavering steps, and in the next half hour prepared more of the elixir into which he mixed some of his own blood.
The effect was the same as if he had used the blood of his child.
This delighted him so much that he fairly beamed with pleasure.

But even then he gave himself no rest.