Disengaging myself from the magic cap, which act made my companion disappear from my view, I made for the garden gate.  But the invisible wretch followed me with his taunts.  He only left me at the door of my house, with a mocking “au revoir.”  The place had been wrecked by the mob and was deserted.  Only the faithful Bendel was there to receive me with tears of mingled grief and joy.  I pressed him to my heart, and bid him leave me to my misery.  I told him to keep a few boxes filled with gold, that were still in the house, made him saddle my horse, and departed, leaving the choice of the road to the animal, for I had neither aim, nor wish, nor hope.

A pedestrian joined me on the sad journey.  After tramping along for a while, he asked permission to put his cloak on my horse.  I consented; he thanked me, and then, in a kind of soliloquy, began to praise the power of wealth, and to speak cleverly of metaphysics.  Meanwhile, day was dawning; the sun was about to rise, the shadows to spread their splendour—­and I was not alone!  I looked at my companion—­it was the man with the grey coat!

He smiled at my surprise, and continued to converse amiably.  In fact, he not only offered to replace for the time being my former servant Bendel, but actually lent me my shadow for the journey.  The temptation was great.  I suddenly gave my horse the spurs and galloped off at full speed; but, alas! my shadow remained behind and I had to turn back shamefacedly.

“You can’t escape me,” said my companion, “I hold you by your shadow.”  And all the time, hour by hour, day by day, he continued his urging.  At last we quarrelled seriously, and he decided to leave me.  “If ever you want me, you have only to shake your bag.  You hold me by my gold.  You know I can be useful, especially to the wealthy; you have seen it.”

I thought of the past and asked him quickly, “Did you get Mr. John’s signature?” He smiled.  “With so good a friend, the formality was not necessary.”

“Where is he?  I want to know.”

He hesitated, then put his hand into his pocket, and pulled out Mr. John’s livid body; the blue lips of the corpse moved, and uttered painfully the words:  “Justo judico Dei judicatus sum; justo judicio Dei condemnatus sum."

Seized with horror, I threw the inexhaustible money-bag into the abyss, and then spoke the final words.  “You fiend, I exorcise you in the name of God!  Be off, and never show yourself before mine eyes again!”

He glared at me furiously and disappeared instantly.

III.—­The Wanderer

Left now without shadow and without money, save for the few gold pieces still in my pocket, I could almost have been happy, had it not been for the loss of my love.  My horse was down below at the inn; I decided to leave it there and to wander on on foot.  In the forest I encountered a peasant, from whom I obtained information about the district and its inhabitants.  He was an intelligent man, and I quite enjoyed the talk.  When we approached the wide bed of a mountain stream, I made him walk in front, but he turned round to speak to me.  Suddenly he broke off—­“But how is that?  You have no shadow!”