"And so," cried the forest-master furiously, "your matchless impudence has sought to betray that poor girl and me--and you pretended to love her--her whom you have dragged to the abyss--see how she weeps, how she is agonized! O shame! O sin!" I was so completely confused that I answered incoherently: "After all, 'twas but a shadow--nothing but a shadow--one can manage without it; and surely it is not worth making such a noise about." But I felt so deeply the deception of my language, that I was silent before he deigned to give me an answer. I added, "What a man has lost to-day he may find again to- morrow." He spoke angrily: "Explain to me, sir, explain how you got rid of your shadow." I was compelled again to lie: "A vulgar fellow trod so clumsily upon my shadow, that he tore a great hole in it; I sent it to be mended--gold can do everything; I ought to have received it back yesterday." "Very well, sir, very well," he replied. "You sue for my daughter--others do the same; as her father I must take care of her. I give you three days' respite, which you may employ in procuring a shadow. Come to me after this, and if you have one that suits you, you will be welcome: but if not, on the fourth day, I must tell you, my daughter shall be the wife of another." I attempted to address a word to Mina; but she clung, violently agitated, closer to her mother, who silently beckoned to me that I should retire. I slunk away as if the world's gates had closed behind me. Escaped to Bendel's affectionate guidance, I wandered with erring footsteps through fields and woods, sweat-drops of anguish fell from my brow; deep groans broke from my bosom; within me raged a wild frenzy. I know not how long it had lasted, when on a sunny heath I found myself held by the sleeve--I stood still, and looked around me. It was the grey- coated stranger; he seemed to have followed me till he was out of breath. He instantly began: "I had announced myself for to-day; you have hardly been able to wait so long--but all is well--you will take good counsel: exchange your shadow again; it only waits your commands, and then turn back. You will be welcome in the forester's garden; it was but a jest. Rascal, who has betrayed you, and who is a suitor to your betrothed, I will dispose of--the fellow is ripe." {Schlemihl offered the parchment: p72.jpg} I stood there still, as if I were asleep--"Announced for to-day?"--I reckoned the time over again; it was so. I had erred in my calculations. I put my right hand on the bag in my bosom; he discovered my meaning, and drew back two paces. "No, Sir Count, that is in good hands; that you may retain." I looked on him with staring and inquiring eyes. He spoke: "May I ask for a trifling memento? Be so good as to sign this note." The following words were on the parchment he held: "I hereby promise to deliver over my soul to the bearer after its natural separation from my body."