ssess address and tact; I described to him exactly
the man in whose possession lay a treasure without which my life was
only a misery. I told him the time, the place in which I had seen him;
I described to him all who had been present, and added, moreover, this
token: he should particularly inquire after a Dollond's telescope;
after a gold interwoven Turkish carpet; after a splendid
pleasure-tent; and, finally, after the black chargers, whose story,
we knew not how, was connected with that of the mysterious man, who
seemed of no consideration amongst them, and whose appearance had
destroyed the quiet and happiness of my life.

When I had done speaking I fetched out gold, such a load that I was
scarcely able to carry it, and added thereto precious stones and
jewels of a far greater value. "Bendel," said I, "these level many
ways, and make easy many things which appeared quite impossible; don't
be stingy with it, as I am not, but go and rejoice thy master with the
intelligence on which his only hope depends."

He went. He returned late and sorrowful. None of the people of Mr.
John, none of his guests, and he had spoken with all, were able, in
the remotest degree, to recollect the man in the gray coat. The new
telescope was there, and no one knew whence it had come; the carpet,
the tent were still there spread and pitched on the selfsame hill;
the servants boasted of the affluence of their master, and no one
knew whence these new valuables had come to him. He himself took his
pleasure in them, and did not trouble himself because he did not know
whence he had them. The young gentlemen had the horses, which they had
ridden, in their stables, and they praised the liberality of Mr. John
who on that day made them a present of them. Thus much was clear from
the circumstantial relation of Bendel, whose active zeal and able
proceeding, although with such fruitless result, received from me
their merited commendation. I gloomily motioned him to leave me alone.

"I have," began he again, "given my master an account of the matter
which was most important to him. I have yet a message to deliver which
a person gave me whom I met at the door as I went out on the business
in which I have been so unfortunate. The very words of the man were
these: 'Tell Mr. Peter Schlemihl he will not see me here again, as I
am going over sea, and a favorable wind calls me at this moment to
the harbor. But in a year and a day I will have the honor to seek