word; in short, the very individual in search of whom he had been
sent. "How unfortunate!" cried I bitterly; "it was himself."
Scales, as it were, fell from Bendel's eyes. "Yes, it was he,"
cried he, "undoubtedly it was he; and fool, madman, that I was, I
did not recognise him--I did not, and have betrayed my master!" He
then broke out into a torrent of self-reproach; and his distress
really excited my compassion. I endeavoured to console him,
repeatedly assuring him that I entertained no doubt of his fidelity;
and despatched him immediately to the wharf, to discover, if
possible, some trace of the extraordinary being. But on that very
morning many vessels which had been detained in port by contrary
winds had set sail, all bound to different parts of the globe; and
the grey man had disappeared like a shadow.



CHAPTER II.



Of what use were wings to a man fast bound in chains of iron? They
would but increase the horror of his despair. Like the dragon
guarding his treasure, I remained cut off from all human
intercourse, and starving amidst my very gold, for it gave me no
pleasure: I anathematised it as the source of all my wretchedness.

Sole depository of my fearful secret, I trembled before the meanest
of my attendants, whom, at the same time, I envied; for he possessed
a shadow, and could venture to go out in the daytime; while I shut
myself up in my room day and night, and indulged in all the