serve a shadowless master!" He was silent, and I hid my face in my
hands.

At last I tremblingly said, "Bendel! you have now my confidence--betray
it if you will--away! and bear witness against me." He seemed struggling
with internal emotion; he threw himself at my feet, seized my hand, and
bathed it with his tears. "No," he cried, "let the world say what it
may, I will not leave my good master for the sake of a shadow; I will do
what is right and not what is prudent: I will remain with you, I will
lend you my shadow; I will help you where I can; I will weep with you." I
fell on his neck, overcome with such an unexpected self-devotion. I felt
assured he did nothing for the sake of gold.

From that moment my fate and my mode of life changed. It is
indescribable how carefully Bendel sought to cover my defects. He was
ever before and with me, foreseeing everything, arranging everything, and
where unexpected danger threatened, covering me with his shadow, for he
was fortunately taller and stouter than I. Again I mingled with mankind,
and acted my part in the scenes of the world. It was necessary to assume
much singularity and queerness; but these sit well upon a rich man, and
while the truth lay concealed, I enjoyed all the honour and esteem to
which wealth has a claim. I looked with more calmness on the advancing
year and day, whose close was to bring with them the visit of the
mysterious unknown.

I was well aware that I could not remain long in the place where I had
been seen without a shadow, and where I might so easily be betrayed; and
I thought perhaps more on this, remembering how I had first shown myself
to the merchant, which was now a sad recollection to me; consequently I
would only make an experiment here, that I might learn how to introduce
myself hereafter with more ease and confidence; nevertheless it happened
that I was momentarily bound down by my vanity; which is the firm ground
in man where the anchor fixes itself.

The beautiful Fanny, whom I again met in another situation, bestowed on
me some attention, without recollecting that she had seen me before; for
now I had both wit and understanding. When I talked, all listened, and I
could not imagine when or how I had acquired the talent of leading and
directing the conversation. The impression which I perceived I had
produced on the fair one, made me, as she would have me, a very fool; and
from this time I pursued her, where only I could purs