And it certainly did vex him, not so much because the shadow was gone,
but because he knew there was a story of a man without a shadow. All the
people at home, in his country, knew this story; and when he returned, and
related his own adventures, they would say it was only an imitation; and he
had no desire for such things to be said of him. So he decided not to speak
of it at all, which was a very sensible determination.
In the evening he went out again on his balcony, taking care to place the
light behind him; for he knew that a shadow always wants his master for a
screen; but he could not entice him out. He made himself little, and he made
himself tall; but there was no shadow, and no shadow came. He said, “Hem,
a-hem;” but it was all useless. That was very vexatious; but in warm
countries everything grows very quickly; and, after a week had passed, he
saw, to his great joy, that a new shadow was growing from his feet, when he
walked in the sunshine; so that the root must have remained. After three
weeks, he had quite a respectable shadow, which, during his return journey
to northern lands, continued to grow, and became at last so large that he
might very well have spared half of it. When this learned man arrived at
home, he wrote books about the true, the good, and the beautiful, which are
to be found in this world; and so days and years passed-many, many years.
One evening, as he sat in his study, a very gentle tap was heard at the
door. “Come in,” said he; but no one came. He opened the door, and there
stood before him a man so remarkably thin that he felt seriously troubled at
his appearance. He was, however, very well dressed, and looked like a
gentleman. “To whom have I the honor of speaking?” said he.
“Ah, I hoped you would recognize me,” said the elegant stranger; “I have
gained so much that I have a body of flesh, and clothes to wear. You never
expected to see me in such a condition. Do you not recognize your old
shadow? Ah, you never expected that I should return to you again. All has
been prosperous with me since I was with you last; I have become rich in
every way, and, were I inclined to purchase my freedom from service, I
could easily do so.” And as he spoke he rattled between his fingers a
