hus I proceeded, occasionally stealing a sidelong glance, with a
beating heart, from my horse, at the shadow once my own, but now, alas,
accepted as a loan from a stranger, or rather a fiend.

He moved on carelessly at my side, whistling a song. He being on foot,
and I on horseback, the temptation to hazard a silly project occurred
to me; so, suddenly turning my bridle, I set spurs to my horse, and at
full gallop struck into a by-path; but my shadow, on the sudden
movement of my horse, glided away, and stood on the road, quietly
awaiting the approach of its legal owner. I was obliged to return
abashed towards the grey man; but he very coolly finished his song, and
with a laugh set my shadow to rights again, reminding me that it was at
my option to have it irrevocably fixed to me, by purchasing it on just
and equitable terms: "I hold you," said he, "by the shadow; and you
seek in vain to get rid of me. A rich man, like you, requires a shadow,
unquestionably; and you are to blame for not having seen this sooner."

I now continued my journey on the same road; every convenience and even
luxury of life was mine; I moved about in peace and freedom, for I
possessed a shadow, though a borrowed one; and all the respect due to
wealth was paid to me. But a deadly disease preyed on my heart. My
extraordinary companion, who gave himself out to be the humble
attendant of the richest individual in the world, was remarkable for
his dexterity; in short, his singular address and promptitude admirably
fitted him to be the very _beau ideal_ of a rich man's lacquey. But he
never stirred from my side, and tormented me with constant assurances
that a day would most certainly come, when, if it were only to get rid
of him, I should gladly comply with his terms, and redeem my shadow.
Thus he became as irksome as he was hateful to me. I really stood in
awe of him--I had placed myself in his power. Since he had effected my
return to the pleasures of the world, which I had resolved to shun, he
had the perfect mastery of me. His eloquence was irresistible, and at
times I almost thought he was in the right. A shadow is indeed
necessary to a man of fortune; and if I chose to maintain the position
in which he had placed me, there was only one means of doing so. But on
one point I was immovable: since I had sacrificed my love for Minna,
and thereby blighted the happiness of my whole life, I would not now,
for all the shadows in the universe, be induced