ue her, through
shades and twilight. I was vain enough to make her vain of me; yet I
could not succeed, notwithstanding all my efforts to drive the
intoxication from my head to my heart.

{Schlemihl and Fanny: p48.jpg}

But why enter upon the details of an everyday story? You know, and have
often told me, how other wealthy people spend their days. From an old,
well-known drama, in which I, out of mere good-humour, was playing a
hacknied part, arose a singular and incredible catastrophe, unexpected by
me, or by Fanny, or by anybody.

According to my custom, one lovely evening I had assembled a large
company in an illuminated garden. I was wandering about with my divinity
arm-in-arm, separated from the rest of the guests, and endeavouring to
amuse her with well-timed conversation; she looked modestly towards the
ground, and gently returned the pressure of my hand. At this moment the
moon unexpectedly burst through the clouds: her shadow alone was
there,--she started, looked alarmed at me, then at the earth, as if her
eyes were asking for my shadow;--all her emotions were painted so
faithfully on her countenance, that I should have burst into a loud
laugh, had I not felt an icy dullness creeping over me.

She sunk down from my arms in a swoon. I flew like an arrow through the
alarmed company, reached the door, threw myself into the first coach I
found waiting there, and hurried back to the city, where, to my
misfortune, I had left the foresighted Bendel. He was startled at seeing
me--a word told all. Post-horses were instantly ordered. I took only
one of my servants with me, an interested villain called Rascal, who had
learned to make himself useful by his dexterity, and who could suspect
nothing of what had occurred. We travelled a hundred miles before night.
Bendel was left behind to dismiss my household, to distribute my money by
paying my debts, and to bring away what was most necessary. When he
overtook me the next day, I threw myself into his arms, solemnly
promising to commit no farther folly, but to be more discreet in future.
We continued our journey without interruption, passing over the chain of
mountains which formed the frontier; and only when on the descent, and
separated by the high bastions from the land so fatal to my peace, did I
allow myself to be comforted, and hastened away to a watering-place in
the vicinity, where I sought repose from my disappointments and my
sorrows.

CHAPTER