At all events, I had enough money to reach the Tour-du-Grec, and there Providence would take care of me.

Yet it seemed to me very difficult to travel as far as Martorano, begging like a mendicant-friar, because my outward appearance did not excite pity; people would feel interested in me only from a conviction that I needed nothing--a very unfortunate conviction, when the object of it is truly poor.
As I had forseen, the Greek was in my room at daybreak.

I received him in a friendly way, saying that we could take coffee together.
"Willingly; but tell me, reverend abbe, whether you would feel disposed to sell me your secret ?" "Why not?
When we meet in Naples--" "But why not now ?" "I am expected in Salerno; besides, I would only sell the secret for a large sum of money, and I am not acquainted with you." "That does not matter, as I am sufficiently known here to pay you in cash.

How much would you want ?" "Two thousand ounces." "I agree to pay you that sum provided that I succeed in making the augmentation myself with such matter as you name to me, which I will purchase." "It is impossible, because the necessary ingredients cannot be got here; but they are common enough in Naples." "If it is any sort of metal, we can get it at the Tourdu-Grec.

We could go there together.