him myself, and then to propose to him another and probably to him
agreeable transaction. Present my most humble compliments to him,
and assure him of my thanks.' I asked him who he was, but he replied
that your honor knew him already."

"What was the man's appearance?" cried I, filled with foreboding, and
Bendel sketched me the man in the gray coat, trait by trait, word for
word, as he had accurately described in his former relation the man
after whom he had inquired.

"Unhappy one!" I exclaimed, wringing my hands--"that was the very
man!" and there fell, as it were, scales from his eyes.

"Yes! it was he, it was, positively!" cried he in horror, "and
I, blind and imbecile wretch, have not recognized him, have not
recognized him, and have betrayed my master!"

He broke out into violent weeping; heaped the bitterest reproaches
on himself, and the despair in which he was inspired even me with
compassion. I spoke comfort to him, assured him repeatedly that I
entertained not the slightest doubt of his fidelity, and sent him
instantly to the port, if possible to follow the traces of this
singular man. But in the morning a great number of ships which the
contrary winds had detained in the harbor, had run out, bound to
different climes and different shores, and the gray man had vanished
as tracelessly as a dream.

CHAPTER III

Of what avail are wings to him who is fast bound in iron fetters? He
is compelled only the more fearfully to despair. I lay, like Faffner
by his treasure, far from every consolation, starving in the midst
of my gold. But my heart was not in it; on the contrary, I cursed it,
because I saw myself through it cut off from all life. Brooding over
my gloomy secret alone, I trembled before the meanest of my servants,
whom at the same time I was forced to envy, for he had a shadow; he
might show himself in the sun. I wore away days and nights in solitary
sorrow in my chamber, and anguish gnawed at my heart.

There was another who pined away before my eyes; my faithful Bendel
never ceased to torture himself with silent reproaches, that he
had betrayed the trust reposed in him by his master, and had not
recognized him after whom he was dispatched, and with whom he must
believe that my sorrowful fate was intimately interwoven. I could not
lay the fault to his charge; I recognized in the event the mysterious
nature of the Unknown.

That I might leave nothing untried, I one time sent Bendel with