the sun at noon
The learned chemist supported most decidedly the latter opinion , and showed Septimius how he might make for himself a simpler apparatus , with no better aids than Aunt Keziah 's teakettle , and one or two trifling things , which the doctor himself supplied , by which all might be done with every necessary scrupulousness . `` Let me look again at the formula , '' said he . `` There are a good many minute directions that appear trifling , but it is not safe to neglect any minutiae in the preparation of an affair like this ; because , as it is all mysterious and unknown ground together , we can not tell which may be the important and efficacious part . For instance , when all else is done , the recipe is to be exposed seven days to the sun at noon . That does not look very important , but it may be . Then again , ` Steep it in moonlight during the second quarter . ' That 's all moonshine , one would think ; but there 's no saying .