me—­come and share my confidence.  The extent of my wealth I have not withheld from thee, neither will I conceal from thee the extent of my grief.  Bendel! forsake me not.  Bendel, you see me rich, free, beneficent; you fancy all the world in my power; yet you must have observed that I shun it, and avoid all human intercourse.  You think, Bendel, that the world and I are at variance; and you yourself, perhaps, will abandon me, when I acquaint you with this fearful secret.  Bendel, I am rich, free, generous; but, O God, I have no shadow!”

“No shadow!” exclaimed the faithful young man, tears starting from his eyes.  “Alas! that I am born to serve a master without a shadow!” He was silent, and again I hid my face in my hands.

“Bendel,” at last I tremblingly resumed, “you have now my confidence; you may betray me—­go—­bear witness against me!”

He seemed to be agitated with conflicting feelings; at last he threw himself at my feet and seized my hand, which he bathed with his tears.  “No,” he exclaimed; “whatever the world may say, I neither can nor will forsake my excellent master because he has lost his shadow.  I will rather do what is right than what may seem prudent.  I will remain with you—­I will shade you with my own shadow—­I will assist you when I can—­and when I cannot, I will weep with you.”

I fell upon his neck, astonished at sentiments so unusual; for it was very evident that he was not prompted by the love of money.

My mode of life and my fate now became somewhat different.  It is incredible with what provident foresight Bendel contrived to conceal my deficiency.  Everywhere he was before me and with me, providing against every contingency, and in cases of unlooked-for danger, flying to shield me with his own shadow, for he was taller and stouter than myself.  Thus I once more ventured among mankind, and began to take a part in worldly affairs.  I was compelled, indeed, to affect certain peculiarities and whims; but in a rich man they seem only appropriate; and so long as the truth was kept concealed I enjoyed all the honour and respect which gold could procure.

I now looked forward with more composure to the promised visit of the mysterious unknown at the expiration of the year and a day.

I was very sensible that I could not venture to remain long in a place where I had once been seen without a shadow, and where I might easily be betrayed; and perhaps, too, I recollected my first introduction to Mr. John, and this was by no means a pleasing reminiscence.  However, I wished just to make a trial here, that I might with greater ease and security visit some other place.  But my vanity for some time withheld me, for it is in this quality of our race that the anchor takes the firmest hold.

Even the lovely Fanny, whom I again met in several places, without her seeming to recollect that she had ever seen me before, bestowed some notice on me; for wit and understanding were mine in abundance now.  When I spoke, I was listened to; and I was at a loss to know how I had so easily acquired the art of commanding attention, and giving the tone to the conversation.