would have been but a poor ransom. No, Chamisso; but my whole soul
was filled with unconquerable hatred to the cringing knave and his
crooked ways. I might be doing him injustice; but I shuddered at
the bare idea of entering into any fresh compact with him. But here
a circumstance took place which entirely changed the face of things
. . .

I know not whether to ascribe it to excitement of mind, exhaustion
of physical strength (for during the last few days I had scarcely
tasted anything), or the antipathy I felt to the society of my
fiendish companion; but just as I was about to sign the fatal paper,
I fell into a deep swoon, and remained for a long time as if dead.
The first sounds which greeted my ear on recovering my consciousness
were those of cursing and imprecation; I opened my eyes--it was
dusk; my hateful companion was overwhelming me with reproaches. "Is
not this behaving like an old woman? Come, rise up, and finish
quickly what you were going to do; or perhaps you have changed your
determination, and prefer to lie groaning there?"

I raised myself with difficulty from the ground and gazed around me
without speaking a word. It was late in the evening, and I heard
strains of festive music proceeding from the ranger's brilliantly
illuminated house; groups of company were lounging about the
gardens; two persons approached, and seating themselves on the bench
I had lately occupied, began to converse on the subject of the
marriage which had taken place that morning between the wealthy Mr.
Rascal and Minima. All was then over.

I tore off the cap which rendered me invisible; and my companion
having disappeared, I plunged in silence into the thickest gloom of