Now this skilful rhetorician seemed to me to expend great skill in rearing a firmly-constructed edifice, towering aloft on its own self-supported basis, but resting on, and upheld by, some internal principle of necessity.  I regretted in it the total absence of what I desired to find; and thus it seemed a mere work of art, serving only by its elegance and exquisite finish to captivate the eye.  Nevertheless, I listened with pleasure to this eloquently gifted man, who diverted my attention from my own sorrows to the speaker; and he would have secured my entire acquiescence if he had appealed to my heart as well as to my judgment.

In the meantime the hours had passed away, and morning had already dawned imperceptibly in the horizon; looking up, I shuddered as I beheld in the east all those splendid hues that announce the rising sun.  At this hour, when all natural shadows are seen in their full proportions, not a fence or a shelter of any kind could I descry in this open country, and I was not alone!  I cast a glance at my companion, and shuddered again—­it was the man in the grey coat himself!  He laughed at my surprise, and said, without giving me time to speak:  “You see, according to the fashion of this world, mutual convenience binds us together for a time:  there is plenty of time to think of parting.  The road here along the mountain, which perhaps has escaped your notice, is the only one that you can prudently take; into the valley you dare not descend—­the path over the mountain would but reconduct you to the town which you have left—­my road, too, lies this way.  I perceive you change colour at the rising sun—­I have no objections to let you have the loan of your shadow during our journey, and in return you may not be indisposed to tolerate my society.  You have now no Bendel; but I will act for him.  I regret that you are not over-fond of me; but that need not prevent you from accepting my poor services.  The devil is not so black as he is painted.  Yesterday you provoked me, I own; but now that is all forgotten, and you must confess I have this day succeeded in beguiling the wearisomeness of your journey.  Come, take your shadow, and make trial of it.”

The sun had risen, and we were meeting with passengers; so I reluctantly consented.  With a smile, he immediately let my shadow glide down to the ground; and I beheld it take its place by that of my horse, and gaily trot along with me.  My feelings were anything but pleasant.  I rode through groups of country people, who respectfully made way for the well-mounted stranger.  Thus I proceeded, occasionally stealing a sidelong glance with a beating heart from my horse at the shadow once my own, but now, alas, accepted as a loan from a stranger, or rather a fiend.  He moved on carelessly at my side, whistling a song.  He being on foot, and I on horseback, the temptation to hazard a silly project occurred to me; so, suddenly turning my bridle, I set spurs to my horse, and at