invisible fiend take a place by me, and heard him utter a sarcastic
laugh. The key was turned in the door, which was opened. The
forest-master appeared with a paper in his hand. Suddenly my head
was, as it were, enveloped in a mist. I looked up, and, oh horror!
the grey-coated man was at my side, peering in my face with a
satanic grin. He had extended the mist-cap he wore over my head.
His shadow and my own were lying together at his feet in perfect
amity. He kept twirling in his hand the well-known parchment with
an air of indifference; and while the ranger, absorbed in thought,
and intent upon his paper, paced up and down the arbour, my
tormentor confidentially leaned towards me, and whispered, "So, Mr.
Schlemihl, you have at length accepted my invitation; and here we
sit, two heads under one hood, as the saying is. Well, well, all in
good time. But now you can return me my bird's nest--you have no
further occasion for it; and I am sure you are too honourable a man
to withhold it from me. No need of thanks, I assure you; I had
infinite pleasure in lending it to you." He took it out of my
unresisting hand, put it into his pocket, and then broke into so
loud a laugh at my expense, that the forest-master turned round,
startled at the sound. I was petrified. "You must acknowledge," he
continued, "that in our position a hood is much more convenient. It
serves to conceal not only a man, but his shadow, or as many shadows
as he chooses to carry. I, for instance, to-day bring two, you
perceive." He laughed again. "Take notice, Schlemihl, that what a
man refuses to do with a good grace in the first instance, he is
always in the end compelled to do. I am still of opinion that you
ought to redeem your shadow and claim your bride (for it is yet
time); and as to Rascal, he shall dangle at a rope's end--no
difficult matter, so long as we can find a bit. As a mark of
friendship I will give you my cap into the bargain."