d me with. It was evident that he wished to address
me; and I could not avoid encountering him without seeming rude. I
returned his salutation, therefore, and stood bareheaded in the
sunshine, as if rooted to the ground. I gazed at him with the utmost
horror, and felt like a bird fascinated by a serpent.

He affected himself to have an air of embarrassment. With his eyes on
the ground, he bowed several times, drew nearer, and at last, without
looking up, addressed me in a low and hesitating voice, almost in the
tone of a suppliant: "Will you, sir, excuse my importunity in venturing
to intrude upon you in so unusual a manner? I have a request to
make,--would you most graciously be pleased to allow me--?"

"Hold! for Heaven's sake!" I exclaimed; "what can I do for a man
who"--I stopped in some confusion, which he seemed to share.

After a moment's pause, he resumed: "During the short time I have
had the pleasure to be in your company, I have--permit me, sir, to
say--beheld with unspeakable admiration your most beautiful shadow, and
remarked the air of noble indifference with which you, at the same
time, turn from the glorious picture at your feet, as if disdaining to
vouchsafe a glance at it. Excuse the boldness of my proposal; but
perhaps you would have no objection to sell me your shadow?"

He stopped; while my head turned round like a millwheel. What was I to
think of so extraordinary a proposal? To sell my shadow!

"He must be mad," thought I; and assuming a tone more in character with
the submissiveness of his own, I replied, "My good friend, are you not
content with your own shadow? This would be a bargain of a strange
nature indeed!"

"I have in my pocket," he said, "many things which may possess some
value in your eyes: for that inestimable shadow, I should deem the
highest price too little."

A cold shuddering came over me as I recollected the pocket; and I could
not conceive what had induced me to style him "_good friend_," which I
took care not to repeat, endeavouring to make up for it by a studied
politeness.

I now resumed the conversation:--"But, sir--excuse your humble
servant--I am at a loss to comprehend your meaning,--my shadow!--how
can I?"

"Permit me," he exclaimed, interrupting me, "to gather up the noble
image as it lies on the ground, and to take it into my possession. As
to the manner of accomplishing it, leave that to me. In return, and as
an evidence of my gratitude, I shall leave you