"You cannot endure me, sir! you hate me--I know it: but why do you hate me? Is it because, when you attacked me on the highway, you attempted to steal my charm by force? or is it because you endeavoured fraudulently to get possessed of my property, the shadow, which had been confided to your simple honour? For myself, I do not hate you for that; it is quite natural you should seek to turn your advantages, your cunning, your strength to good account. That you have the most rigid principles, and are honesty itself, is a hobby-horse belief of your own, to which I can have no objection. My notions are not so strict as yours: I only act according to your notions. But did I ever attempt to strangle you in order to possess your valuable soul, to which I really have a great liking? Have I, for the sake of my bartered purse, let loose a servant upon you, and endeavoured to run away with it?" I could answer nothing to all this,--and he continued.--"Well then, sir, well! You cannot endure me, I understand it, and am not displeased with you for that. It is clear we must part, and you really are become very tedious to me; but to get rid of my perplexing presence altogether for the future, I will give you a piece of advice--buy the thing of me!" I held out the purse to him. "At the price?"--"No!"--I sighed deeply, and began again.--"Well, then, I insist upon it, we must part,--do not stop up my way any longer in a world which is wide enough for both of us." He smiled, and replied:--"I go, sir; but I will first instruct you how to summon me, when you wish for the presence of your most humble slave: you need only shake your purse, that its exhaustless pieces may tinkle, and the sound will draw me instantly to you. Everybody in this world thinks of his own interests; you see I also am attending to yours--for I give you spontaneously a new power.--Excellent purse! and even if the moths had devoured your shadow, there would be a strong bond of union between us. But enough--you possess me while you possess my gold; however distant, command your servant--you know I am always ready to do honour to my friends, and that I have for the wealthy an especial regard; that you yourself have seen--but as for your shadow, sir, allow me to assure you, your shadow will never be yours but on one condition."