"
He was silent, and a mill-wheel seemed to whirl round in my head. What
was I to make of this singular proposition to sell my own shadow?
He must be mad, thought I, and with an altered tone which was more
assimilated to that of his own humility, I answered thus:
"Ha! ha! good friend, have not you then enough of your own shadow? I
take this for a business of a very singular sort--"
He hastily interrupted me--"I have many things in my pocket which,
sir, might not appear worthless to you, and for this inestimable
shadow I hold the very highest price too small."
It struck cold through me again as I was reminded of the pocket.
I knew not how I could have called him good friend. I resumed the
conversation, and sought, if possible, to set all right again by
excessive politeness.
"But, sir, pardon your most humble servant; I do not understand your
meaning. How indeed could my shadow"--he interrupted me--
"I beg your permission only here on the spot to be allowed to take up
this noble shadow and put it in my pocket; how I shall do that, be my
care. On the other hand, as a testimony of my grateful acknowledgment
to you, I give you the choice of all the treasures which I carry in my
pocket--the genuine Spring-root, the Mandrake-root, the Change-penny,
the Rob-dollar, the Napkin of Roland's Page, a Mandrake-man, at your
own price. But these probably don't interest you--rather Fortunatus'
Wishing-cap newly and stoutly repaired, and a lucky-bag such as he
had!"
"The Luck-purse of Fortunatus!" I exclaimed, interrupting him; and
great as my anxiety was, with that one word he had taken my whole mind
captive.
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