THE SHADOW. 339

the intention of engaging myself to be married; I can do more
than support a family.”

“ Be quite easy,” replied the learned man; “I will tell nobody
who you really are. Here’s my hand. I promise it, and my
word’s as good as my bond.”

“ A Shadow’s word in return!” said the Shadow, for he was
obliged to talk in that way. But, by the way, it was quite won-
derful how complete a man he had become. He was dressed all
in black, and wore the very finest black cloth, polished boots, and
a hat that could be crushed together till it was nothing but crown
and rim, besides what we have already noticed of him, namely,
the charms, the gold neck-chain, and the diamond rings. The
Shadow was indeed wonderfully well clothed; and it was just
this that made a complete man of him.

“ Now I will tell you,” said the Shadow; and then he put down
his polished boots as firmly as he could on the arm of the learned
man’s new shadow, that lay like a poodle dog at his feet. This
was done perhaps from pride, perhaps so that the new shadow
might stick to his feet; but the prostrate shadow remained quite
quiet, so that it might listen well, for it wanted to know how one
could get free and work up to be one’s own master.

“Do you know who lived in the house opposite to us ?” asked
the Shadow. “ That was the most glorious of all; it was Poetry!
I was there for three weeks, and that was just as if one had lived
there a thousand years, and could read all that has been written
and composed. For this I say, and it is truth, I have seen every-
thing, and I know everything!”

_ Poetry!” cried the learned man. “ Yes, she often lives as a
hermit in great cities. Poetry! Yes, I myself saw her for one
single brief moment, but sleep was heavy on my eyes: she stood
on the balcony, gleaming as the Northern Light gleams, flowers
with living flames. Tellme! tell me! You were upon the balcony.
You went through the door, and then——”

“Then I was in the anteroom,” said the Shadow. “You sat
opposite, and were always looking across atthe anteroom. There
was no light; a kind of semi-obscurity reigned there; but one
door after another in a whole row of halls and rooms stood open,
and there it was light; and the mass of light would have killed
me if I had got as far as to where the maiden sat. But I was
deliberate, I took my time; and that’s what one must do.”

“ And what didst thou see then?” asked the learned man.

“T saw everything, and I will tell you what; but—it is really
not pride on my part—as a free man, and with the acquirements
I possess, besides my good position and my remarkable fortune,
I wish you would say you to me.”

“T beg your pardon,” said the learned man. ‘This zhow is an
old habit, and old habits are difficult to alter. Yor: are perfectly
right, and I will remember it. But now tell me everything you saw.”

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