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The Alchemist Act 2, Scene 5 Summary

  • Just as Ananias walks into the house, Subtle and Face act like they're super busy doing a bunch of alchemical work. They start tossing around a bunch of alchemy jargon to impress/confuse/bedazzle Ananias, who declares that he "understand[s] no heathen language."
  • Ananias goes on to say that every language is "heathen" except Hebrew.
  • Subtle pretends to be outraged at the insult and tries to show off his alchemical knowledge by pretending to quiz Face about a bunch of terms and procedures.
  • We learn that Ananias has been sent by his pastor, a dude named Tribulation Wholesome.
  • He's there to buy some metal, which Subtle's supposedly going to turn into gold for the Anabaptists, who are trying to raise money for their religious cause.
  • Subtle hits up Ananias for more money but Ananias refuses—apparently, the Anabaptists have already kicked down a bunch of cash and won't pay any more until Subtle can show them the goods (a.k.a. the philosopher's stone).
  • Obviously, Subtle is never going to whip up the stone so, he pretends to go into a rage, throws Ananias out, and tells him to send the Elders to see him.