entertainment than it could possibly give me. Accept my excuses,
therefore; and, since it must be so, let us part."

"I am sorry, Mr. Schlemihl, that you thus obstinately persist in
rejecting my friendly offer. Perhaps, another time, I may be more
fortunate. Farewell! May we shortly meet again! But, a propos,
allow me to show you that I do not undervalue my purchase, but
preserve it carefully."

So saying, he drew my shadow out of his pocket; and shaking it
cleverly out of its folds, he stretched it out at his feet in the
sun--so that he stood between two obedient shadows, his own and
mine, which was compelled to follow and comply with his every
movement.

On again beholding my poor shadow after so long a separation, and
seeing it degraded to so vile a bondage at the very time that I was
so unspeakably in want of it, my heart was ready to burst, and I
wept bitterly. The detested wretch stood exulting over his prey,
and unblushingly renewed his proposal. "One stroke of your pen, and
the unhappy Minna is rescued from the clutches of the villain
Rascal, and transferred to the arms of the high-born Count Peter--
merely a stroke of your pen!"

My tears broke out with renewed violence; but I turned away from
him, and made a sign for him to be gone.

Bendel, whose deep solicitude had induced him to come in search of
me, arrived at this very moment. The good and faithful creature, on
seeing me weeping, and that a shadow (evidently mine) was in the