The Alchemist

Tribulation Wholesome and Ananias arrive outside Lovewit’s house. Ananias tells Wholesome that he does not like or trust Subtle, and Wholesome agrees that Subtle is profane. However, Wholesome thinks that profane people can be a source of value. He tells him that even though the Anabaptists’ cause is “holy,” they sometimes need to work with “unholy” people to achieve their goals. Wholesome suspects that Subtle, like glassmakers and blacksmiths, is offensive because of his work with fire, which is associated with Satan. Wholesome also suspects that Subtle might convert to Anabaptism following their use of the stone. Ananias apologizes for having offended Subtle, and the two knock on the door.

Ananias and Wholesome meet with Subtle, and Wholesome apologizes for Ananias’s prior behavior. Wholesome offers to pay whatever is needed for the orphans’ belongings—actually Mammon’s metal goods. Subtle mentions the philosopher’s stone, explaining to Wholesome the many ways that the stone could advance the cause of the Anabaptists. Ananias periodically speaks up to contradict Subtle; he thinks Subtle is immoral and does not believe in the stone. However, Wholesome tries to remain on Subtle’s good side, as he wants to make sure that Subtle will ultimately serve the Anabaptist cause as a convert.