.

That night was a sleepless one. My first care at daybreak was to order
the man in the grey coat to be everywhere sought for. Perchance I might
be lucky enough to discover him--and oh! what bliss if he as well as I
repented of our foolish bargain. I sent for Bendel; he seemed both apt
and active. I described to him minutely the man who held in his
possession that treasure, without which life was but a torment to me. I
told him the time, the place where I had seen him; particularized to him
all the persons who could assist his inquiries; and added, that he should
especially ask after a Dollond's telescope, a gold embroidered Turkish
carpet, a superb tent, and also the black riding horses; whose history,--I
did not state how,--was closely connected with that of the unintelligible
man, whom nobody seemed to notice, and whose appearance had destroyed the
peace and happiness of my life.

When I had done, I brought out as much gold as I was able to carry. I
laid jewels and precious stones to a still greater amount upon the pile.
"Bendel," I said, "this levels many a path, and makes many a difficult
thing easy; be not sparing, you know I am not; but go and rejoice your
master with the information on which his only hopes are built."

He went--he returned--and returned late and sorrowful. None of the
merchant's servants, none of his guests--he had spoken to all--knew
anything about the man in the grey coat. The new telescope was there,
but they were all ignorant whence it came. The tent and the carpet were
extended on the same hill; the lackeys boasted of their master's
magnificence: but none knew from what place these new valuables had come.
They had administered to his pleasures; and he did not disturb his rest
to inquire into their origin. Their horses were in the stalls of the
young men who had rode them; and they lauded the generosity of the
merchant, who had that day requested they would keep them as presents.
Such was the light that Bendel threw upon this extraordinary history, and
for this fruitless result received my grateful thanks. I beckoned
gloomily to him that he should leave me alone. But he resumed: "I have
informed you, sir, of everything connected with the affair which most
interests you. I have also a message to deliver, which was given to me
this morning early, by a person whom I met at the door, while I was going
out on the business in which I have been so unfortunate. His own words
were, "