CHAPTER VI.
THE FIRE BATHERS Our little wrinkly-skinned host did the honors as far as the door, and I thanked him for the demonstration; but the Gray Mahatma seemed displeased with that and ignoring me as usual, turned on King in the doorway almost savagely.
"Do you understand that whoever can do what you have just seen can also accomplish the reverse of it, and transmute gold into baser metal ?" he demanded.

"Does it occur to you what that would mean?
A new species of warfare! One combination of ambitious fools making gold--another unmaking it.

Chaos! Now you shall see another science that is no fit pabulum for fools." We came to a door on our right.

It was opened instantly by a lean, mean-looking ascetic, whose hooked nose suggested an infernal brand of contempt for whoever might not agree with him.

Just as the others had done, he met the Gray Mahatma's eyes in silence, and admitted us by simply turning his back.