founded on interest. One day, however, a Jew, with whom he had occasional dealings, threw a new light on the subject, by translating the inscription, which was as follows:
"In possessing me, you possess every thing: but your life will be mine. Wish, and your wishes will be accomplished; but at every wish I shall diminish, as will your days. Regulate your wishes by your life, which will be in me. Wilt thou have me? Take me; and the Lord God have mercy upon you! Amen."
The shagreen skin was a talisman. The auctioneer felt exceedingly uncomfortable: the devil was the only individual with whom he desired to have no dealings. He was himself a man who, since his conversion, feared God and honoured the king, went to church on a Sunday, and never bought or sold stock on a Friday. All his transactions with the superb merchant, whose glittering spoils he was to bring to the hammer, had been quite out of the ordinary way of business. He had been summoned express from London: late in the evening he saw the moon rise over the shadowy turrets of the stately dwelling, whose interior was as much a mystery as its master. Before him stood the gigantic tower, built by torchlight; and of which it was said in the village, that in the course of a year all the workmen employed in its building had perished. The moaning of the wind in the gloomy branches was the only sound, save his horse's steps, in the yew-tree avenue which
