every one, but whose appearance had destroyed the peace and happiness
of my life.

As I spoke I produced as much gold as I could hold in my two hands, and
added jewels and precious stones of still greater value. "Bendel," said
I, "this smooths many a path, and renders that easy which seems almost
impossible. Be not sparing of it, for I am not so; but go, and rejoice
thy master with intelligence on which depend all his hopes."

He departed, and returned late and melancholy. None of Mr. John's
servants, none of his guests (and Bendel had spoken to them all), had
the slightest recollection of the man in the gray cloak. The new
telescope was still there, but no one knew how it had come; and the tent
and Turkey carpet were still stretched out on the hill. The servants
boasted of their master's wealth; but no one seemed to know by what
means he had become possessed of these newly acquired luxuries. He was
gratified; and it gave him no concern to be ignorant how they had come
to him. The black coursers which had been mounted on that day were in
the stables of the young gentlemen of the party, who admired them as the
munificent present of Mr. John.

Such was the information I gained from Bendel's detailed account; but,
in spite of this unsatisfactory result, his zeal and prudence deserved
and received my commendation. In a gloomy mood, I made him a sign to
withdraw.

"I have, sir," he continued, "laid before you all the information in my
power relative to the subject of the most importance to you. I have now
a message to deliver which I received early this morning from a person
at the gate, as I was proceeding to execute the commission in which I