Continuing to spend money with regal lavishness, I myself led a simple and retired life, never leaving my rooms in daylight.  Bendel warned me of Gauner’s extensive thefts; but I did not mind.  Why should I grudge him the money, of which I had an inexhaustible store?  In the evenings I used to meet Mina in her garden, and always found her loving, though awed by my wealth and supposed rank.  Yet, conscious of my dreadful secret, I dared not ask for her hand.  But the year was nearly up since I had made the fateful bargain, and I looked forward to the promised visit of the grey man, whom I hoped to persuade to take back his bag for my shadow.  In fact, I told the verdurer that on the first of the next month I should ask him for his daughter’s hand.

The anniversary arrived—­midday, evening, midnight.  I waited through the long hours, heard the clock strike twelve; but the grey man did not come!  Towards morning I fell into a fitful slumber.  I was awakened by angry voices.  Gauner forced his way into my room, which was defended by the faithful Bendel.

“What do you want, you rogue?”

“Only to see your shadow, with your lordship’s permission.”

“How dare you——­”

“I am not going to serve a man without a shadow.  Either you show it to me, or I go.”

I wanted to offer him money; but he, who had stolen millions, refused to accept money from a man without a shadow.  He put on his hat, and left the room whistling.

When at dark I went, with a heavy heart, to Mina’s bower, I found her, pale and beautiful, and her father with a letter in his hand.  He looked at the letter, then scrutinised me, and said, “Do you happen to know, my lord, a certain Peter Schlemihl, who lost his shadow?”

“Oh, my foreboding!” cried Mina.  “I knew it; he has no shadow!”

“And you dared,” continued the verdurer, “to deceive us?  See how she sobs!  Confess now how you lost your shadow.”

Again I was forced to lie.  “Some time ago a man stepped so clumsily into my shadow that he made a big hole.  I sent it to be mended, and was promised to have it back yesterday.”

“Very well.  Either you present yourself within three days with a well-fitting shadow, or, on the next day, my daughter will be another man’s wife.”

I rushed away, half conscious, groaning and raving.  I do not know how long and how far I ran, but I found myself on a sunny heath, when somebody suddenly pulled my sleeve.  I turned round.  It was the man in the grey coat!

“I announced my visit for to-day.  You made a mistake in your impatience.  All is well.  You buy your shadow back and you will be welcomed by your bride.  As for Gauner, who has betrayed you and has asked for Mina’s hand—­he is ripe for me.”

I groped for the bag but the stranger stopped me.

“No, my lord, you keep this; I only want a little souvenir.  Be good enough and sign this scrap.”  On the parchment was written:  “I herewith assign to bearer my soul after its natural separation from my body.”