.

He came on carelessly by my side, and whistled a tune--he on foot, I on
horseback. A dizziness seized me, the temptation was too great; I
hastily turned the reins, drove both spurs into the horse, and thus went
off at full speed through a cross road. I could not elope with the
shadow, it slipped away when the horse started, and waited on the road
for its lawful owner. I was obliged to turn round, ashamed; the man in
the grey coat, as he unconcernedly finished his tune, began to laugh at
me, and fixing the shadow again in its place, informed me it would only
stick to me, and remain with me, when I had properly and lawfully become
possessed of it. "I hold you fast," he cried, "fast attached to the
shadow; you cannot escape from me. A wealthy man like you may want a
shadow: likely enough--and you are only to blame for not having earlier
looked into the matter."

I continued my journey on the same road as before. I possessed all the
comforts of life, and all its luxuries. I could move about freely and
easily; and I possessed a shadow too, though but a borrowed one, and I
imposed everywhere that reverence which wealth commands; but death was at
my heart. My marvellous conductor, who represented himself to be the
unworthy slave of the richest man in the world, had extraordinary
readiness as a servant, and was exceedingly dexterous and clever, the
very model of a valet for a wealthy gentleman; but he never separated
himself from my side, and incessantly plagued me, exhibiting the greatest
assurance in order that I should conclude the bargain with him respecting
the shadow, if it were only to get rid of him. He was as troublesome as
hateful to me; I always stood in awe of him. I had made myself dependent
on him; I was still in his power, and he had again driven me into the
vanities of the world which I had abandoned: I was compelled to allow to
his eloquence full mastery over me, and almost felt he was in the right.
A wealthy man ought to have a shadow in the world; and so long as I
wished to occupy that station which he had induced me to fill, there was
only one outlet for me. But on this I determined--having sacrificed my
love, and made my existence a curse, I would not transfer my soul to this
being--no, not for all the shadows in the world; but I knew not how it
would end.

One day we were sitting before a cave, which the travellers who had to
cross the mountain were accustomed to visit. There was heard the