I must confess that I was excessively ashamed of being derided by this man.  I detested him from the bottom of my heart; and I believe that this personal antipathy withheld me, more than principle or prejudice, from purchasing my shadow, essential as it was, by the required signature.  The thought also was intolerable to me of making the excursion which he proposed, in his company.  To see this abhorred sneak, this mocking kobold, step between me and my beloved, two torn and bleeding hearts, revolted my innermost feeling.  I regarded what was past as predestined, and my wretchedness as unchangeable, and turning to the man, I said to him—­

“Sir, I have sold you my shadow for this in itself most excellent purse, and I have sufficiently repented of it.  If the bargain can be broken off, then in God’s name—!” He shook his head, and made a very gloomy face.  I continued:  “I will then sell you nothing further of mine, even for this offered price of my shadow; and, therefore, I shall sign nothing.  From this you may understand, that the muffling-up to which you invite me must be much more amusing for you than for me.  Excuse me, therefore; and as it cannot now be otherwise, let us part.”

“It grieves me, Monsieur Schlemihl, that you obstinately decline the business which I propose to you as a friend.  Perhaps another time I may be more fortunate.  Till our speedy meeting again!—­Apropos:  Permit me yet to show you that the things which I purchase I by no means suffer to grow moldy, but honorably preserve, and that they are well taken care of by me.”

With that he drew my shadow out of his pocket and with a dexterous throw unfolding it on the heath, spread it out on the sunny side of his feet, so that he walked between two attendant shadows, his own and mine, for mine must equally obey him and accommodate itself to and follow all his movements.

When I once saw my poor shadow again, after so long an absence, and beheld it degraded to so vile a service, whilst I, on its account, was in such unspeakable trouble, my heart broke, and I began bitterly to weep.  The detested wretch swaggered with the plunder snatched from me, and impudently renewed his proposal.

“You can yet have it.  A stroke of the pen, and you snatch therewith the poor unhappy Mina from the claws of the villain into the arms of the most honored Count—­as observed, only a stroke of the pen.”

My tears burst forth with fresh impetuosity, but I turned away and motioned to him to withdraw himself.  Bendel, who, filled with anxiety, had traced me to this spot, at this moment arrived.  When the kind good soul found me weeping, and saw my shadow, which could not be mistaken, in the power of the mysterious gray man, he immediately resolved, was it even by force, to restore to me the possession of my property; and as he did not understand how to deal with such a tender thing, he immediately assaulted the man with words, and, without much asking, ordered him bluntly