I entered into some conversation with this man respecting the arrangement of my future establishment.  He recommended for my personal attendant one Bendel, whose honest and intelligent countenance immediately prepossessed me in his favour.  It is this individual whose persevering attachment has consoled me in all the miseries of my life, and enabled me to bear up under my wretched lot.  I was occupied the whole day in my room with servants in want of a situation, and tradesmen of every description.  I decided on my future plans, and purchased various articles of vertu and splendid jewels, in order to get rid of some of my gold; but nothing seemed to diminish the inexhaustible heap.

I now reflected on my situation with the utmost uneasiness.  I dared not take a single step beyond my own door; and in the evening I had forty wax tapers lighted before I ventured to leave the shade.  I reflected with horror on the frightful encounter with the school-boys; yet I resolved, if I could command sufficient courage, to put the public opinion to a second trial.  The nights were now moonlight.  Late in the evening I wrapped myself in a large cloak, pulled my hat over my eyes, and, trembling like a criminal, stole out of the house.

I did not venture to leave the friendly shadow of the houses until I had reached a distant part of the town; and then I emerged into the broad moonlight, fully prepared to hear my fate from the lips of the passers-by.

Spare me, my beloved friend, the painful recital of all that I was doomed to endure.  The women often expressed the deepest sympathy for me—­a sympathy not less piercing to my soul than the scoffs of the young people, and the proud contempt of the men, particularly of the more corpulent, who threw an ample shadow before them.  A fair and beauteous maiden, apparently accompanied by her parents, who gravely kept looking straight before them, chanced to cast a beaming glance on me; but was evidently startled at perceiving that I was without a shadow, and hiding her lovely face in her veil, and holding down her head, passed silently on.

This was past all endurance.  Tears streamed from my eyes; and with a heart pierced through and through, I once more took refuge in the shade.  I leant on the houses for support, and reached home at a late hour, worn out with fatigue.

I passed a sleepless night.  My first care the following morning was, to devise some means of discovering the man in the grey cloak.  Perhaps I may succeed in finding him; and how fortunate it were if he should be as ill satisfied with his bargain as I am with mine!

I desired Bendel to be sent for, who seemed to possess some tact and ability.  I minutely described to him the individual who possessed a treasure without which life itself was rendered a burden to me.  I mentioned the time and place at which I had seen him, named all the persons who were present, and concluded with the following directions:  —­He was to inquire for a Dollond’s telescope, a Turkey carpet interwoven with gold, a marquee, and, finally, for some black steeds—­the history, without entering into particulars, of all these being singularly connected with the mysterious character who seemed to pass unnoticed by every one, but whose appearance had destroyed the peace and happiness of my life.