en for its sake I was suffering
nameless anguish, my heart broke within me, and I began to weep most
bitterly. The hated one walked proudly on with his spoil, and
unblushingly renewed his proposals.

"You may have it--'tis but a stroke of the pen; you will save, too, your
poor unhappy Mina from the claws of the vagabond; save her for the arms
of the most honourable Count. 'Tis but a stroke of the pen, I say."
Tears broke forth with new violence; but I turned away, and beckoned him
to be gone.

Bendel, who had followed my steps to the present spot, approached me full
of sadness at this instant. The kind-hearted fellow perceived me
weeping, and observed my shadow, which he could not mistake, attached to
the figure of the extraordinary, grey, unknown one, and he endeavoured by
force to put me in possession of my property; but not being able to lay
firm hold on this subtle thing, he ordered the old man, in a peremptory
tone, to abandon what did not belong to him. He, for a reply, turned his
back upon my well-meaning servant, and marched away. Bendel followed him
closely, and lifting up the stout black-thorn cudgel which he carried,
required the man to give up the shadow, enforcing the command with the
strength of his nervous arm; but the man, accustomed perhaps to such
encounters, bowed his head, raised his shoulders, and walked silently and
calmly over the heath, accompanied by my shadow and my faithful man. For
a long time I heard the dull sound echoed over the waste. It was lost at
last in the distance. I stood alone with my misery as before.

CHAPTER VI.

Thus left behind on the dreary heath, I gave vent to countless tears,
which seemed to lighten my bosom of its intolerable weight. But I saw no
bounds, no outlet, no term to my terrible misery, and with wild
impatience I sucked in the poison which the mysterious being had poured
into my wounds. When I recalled the image of Mina, her soft and lovely
form appeared pale and weeping before me, as I had seen her in my hour of
ignominy; and the shade of Rascal impudently and contumaciously seemed to
step between us. I veiled my face, I fled across the waste; but the
ghastly vision still pursued me; I ran--it was close to me. I sank
breathless to the ground, and watered it with renewed springs of tears.

And all about a shadow! a shadow which a stroke of the pen would have
restored to me! I mused again on the strange proposal and my refusal.
All was d