full gallop struck into a by-path; but my shadow, on the sudden movement of my horse, glided away, and stood on the road quietly awaiting the approach of its legal owner.  I was obliged to return abashed towards the grey man; but he very coolly finished his song, and with a laugh set my shadow to rights again, reminding me that it was at my option to have it irrevocably fixed to me, by purchasing it on just and equitable terms.  “I hold you,” said he, “by the shadow; and you seek in vain to get rid of me.  A rich man like you requires a shadow, unquestionably; and you are to blame for not having seen this sooner.”

I now continued my journey on the same road; every convenience and even luxury of life was mine; I moved about in peace and freedom, for I possessed a shadow, though a borrowed one; and all the respect due to wealth was paid to me.  But a deadly disease preyed on my heart.  My extraordinary companion, who gave himself out to be the humble attendant of the richest individual in the world, was remarkable for his dexterity; in short, his singular address and promptitude admirably fitted him to be the very beau ideal of a rich man’s lacquey.  But he never stirred from my side, and tormented me with constant assurances that a day would most certainly come when, if it were only to get rid of him, I should gladly comply with his terms, and redeem my shadow.  Thus he became as irksome as he was hateful to me.  I really stood in awe of him—­I had placed myself in his power.  Since he had effected my return to the pleasures of the world, which I had resolved to shun, he had the perfect mastery of me.  His eloquence was irresistible, and at times I almost thought he was in the right.  A shadow is indeed necessary to a man of fortune; and if I chose to maintain the position in which he had placed me, there was only one means of doing so.  But on one point I was immovable:  since I had sacrificed my love for Minna, and thereby blighted the happiness of my whole life, I would not now, for all the shadows in the universe be induced to sign away my soul to this being—­I knew not how it might end.

One day we were sitting by the entrance of a cavern, much visited by strangers, who ascended the mountain:  the rushing noise of a subterranean torrent resounded from the fathomless abyss, the depths of which exceeded all calculation.  He was, according to his favourite custom, employing all the powers of his lavish fancy, and all the charm of the most brilliant colouring, to depict to me what I might effect in the world by virtue of my purse, when once I had recovered my shadow.  With my elbows resting on my knees, I kept my face concealed in my hands, and listened to the false fiend, my heart torn between the temptation and my determined opposition to it.  Such indecision I could no longer endure, and resolved on one decisive effort.

“You seem to forget,” said I, “that I tolerate your presence only on certain conditions, and that I am to retain perfect freedom of action.”