Here, Face says the mixture produced by the alchemical process has been “put into the pelican” and “signed with Hermes’ seal,” which is to say the mixture has been hermetically sealed. The “new amalgama,” or alchemical substance, brings them closer to the stone, Subtle says, but Surly still doesn’t believe. To him, the “ferret” that is Face and Subtle’s scam is “rank as any polecat,” meaning it reeks of deception.