small pieces, one from the under and the other from the upper side. These
are tested by fire, in order to ascertain whether the silver is thoroughly refined
or not, and at what price it should be sold to the merchants. Finally he
impresses upon it the seal of the King or the Prince or the owner, and, near
the same, the amount of the weight.
There are some who refine silver in tests placed under iron or earthenware muffles. They use a furnace, on the hearth of which they place the test
containing the fragments of silver, and they place the muffle over it; the
