Say to Mr. Peter Schlemihl, he will see me here no more, as I am
going to cross the sea; and a favourable wind beckons me to the haven.
But after a year and a day I shall have the honour to seek him out, and
perhaps to propose to him another arrangement which may then be to his
liking. Remember me most obediently to him, and assure him of my
thanks." I asked him who he was: and he replied, that you knew.

"What was the man's appearance?" I cried, full of forebodings. And
Bendel described the man in the grey coat, feature by feature, word for
word, precisely as he had depicted him, when inquiring about him.

"Miserable mortal!" exclaimed I, wringing my hands, "it was he! it was he
himself!" He looked as if scales had fallen from his eyes. "Yes, it was
he, it was indeed he!" he cried out in agony; "and I, silly, deluded one,
I did not know him--I did not know him--I have betrayed my master!"

He broke out into the loudest reproaches against himself. He wept
bitterly; his despair could not but excite my pity. I ministered
consolation to him; assured him again and again that I did not doubt his
fidelity, and sent him instantly to the haven, to follow the strange
man's steps if possible. But, on that very morning, many vessels which
had been kept by contrary winds back in port, had put to sea, all
destined to distant lands and other climes; the grey man had disappeared
trackless as a shade.

CHAPTER III.

Of what use would wings be to him who is fast bound in iron fetters? He
must still despair, and despair with deeper melancholy. I lay like
Taffner by his stronghold, far removed from any earthly consolation,
starving in the midst of riches. They gave me no enjoyment; I cursed
them; they had cut me off from mankind. Concealing my gloomy secret
within me, I trembled before the meanest of my servants, whom I could not
but envy: for he had his shadow, and could show himself in the sun. Alone
in my apartments, I mourned through harassing days and nights, and
anguish fed upon my heart.

One individual was constantly sorrowing under my eyes. My faithful
Bendel ceased not to torment himself with silent reproaches that he had
deceived the confidence of his generous master, and had not recognized
him whom he was sent to seek, and with whom my mournful fate seemed
strongly intertwined. I could not blame him: I recognized too well in
that event the mysterious nature of the unknown being.

But, to leave not