ed
windows no light was burning; the doors were shut--no servants appeared
to be moving. He stood behind me, and laughed aloud. "Ay, ay! but your
Bendel is certainly at home; he was sent hither so thoroughly exhausted,
that no doubt he has carefully kept house." He laughed again--"He will
have some stories to amuse you--take courage. Good night for to-day,
till an early interview."

I rang again, and a light appeared. Bendel asked from within, "who is
there?" When he heard my voice, the poor fellow could scarcely contain
his joy; the door flew open, and we lay weeping in each other's arms. He
was greatly changed--weak and ill. My hair had become wholly grey.

He led me through the vacant chambers to an inner apartment, which
remained furnished. He fetched meat and drink--we sat down--he again
began to weep; he then told me that he had lately beaten the grey-clad
meagre man, whom he had met with my shadow, so lustily and so long, that
he lost all trace of me, and had sunk exhausted to the earth; that
afterwards, not being able to discover me, he had returned home, and that
the mob, excited by Rascal, had raised a tumult, broken the windows of
the house, and given full reins to their love of destruction. Thus they
had rewarded their benefactors. One after another my servants had fled.
The police of the place had ordered me to leave the town as a suspicious
person, allowing me a delay of only four-and-twenty hours to quit their
territory. He had a great deal to add to what I already knew of Rascal's
wealth and espousals. This scoundrel, who had originated all the
proceedings against me, must have possessed my secret from the beginning.
It seemed that, attracted by the gold, he had forced himself upon me, and
had procured a key for that treasure-chest where he laid the foundation
of his fortune, which he now seemed determined to enjoy.

Bendel told me all with abundant tears, and wept anew for joy at seeing
me again, and again possessing me: and he rejoiced that, after all his
fears as to what misfortune might have brought me, he found me bearing
everything with calmness and fortitude; for such was the form in which
despair reigned over me, while I saw gigantic and unchangeable misery
before me. I had wept away all my tears; grief could force out no other
accent of distress from my bosom. I raised against it, coldly and
unconcernedly, my uncovered head.

"Bendel," said I, "you know my fate. Not without ce