第1章

OnceuponatimeinZandam，whichisbytheZuiderZee，therelivedawickedmannamedNicholasSnyders。Hewasmeanandhardandcruel，andlovedbutonethingintheworld，andthatwasgold。Andeventhatnotforitsownsake。Helovedthepowergoldgavehim——thepowertotyrannizeandtooppress，thepowertocausesufferingathiswill。Theysaidhehadnosoul，buttheretheywerewrong。Allmenown——or，tospeakmorecorrectly，areownedby——asoul;andthesoulofNicholasSnyderswasanevilsoul。Helivedintheoldwindmillwhichstillisstandingonthequay，withonlylittleChristinatowaituponhimandkeephouseforhim。Christinawasanorphanwhoseparentshaddiedindebt。Nicholas，toChristina’severlastinggratitude，hadclearedtheirmemory——itcostbutafewhundredflorins——inconsiderationthatChristinashouldworkforhimwithoutwages。Christinaformedhisentirehousehold，andonlyonewillingvisitoreverdarkenedhisdoor，thewidowToelast。DameToelastwasrichandalmostasgreatamiserasNicholashimself。"Whyshouldnotwetwomarry？"NicholashadoncecroakedtothewidowToelast。

"TogetherweshouldbemastersofallZandam。"DameToelasthadansweredwithacacklinglaugh;butNicholaswasneverinhaste。

OneafternoonNicholasSnyderssataloneathisdeskinthecentreofthegreatsemi—circularroomthattookuphalfthegroundfloorofthewindmill，andthatservedhimforanoffice，andtherecameaknockingattheouterdoor。

"Comein！"criedNicholasSnyders。HespokeinatonequitekindforNicholasSnyders。HefeltsosureitwasJanknockingatthedoor——JanVanderVoort，theyoungsailor，nowmasterofhisownship，cometodemandofhimthehandoflittleChristina。Inanticipation，NicholasSnyderstastedthejoyofdashingJan’shopestotheground;

ofhearinghimplead，thenrave;ofwatchingthegrowingpallorthatwouldoverspreadJan’shandsomefaceasNicholaswould，pointbypoint，explaintohimtheconsequencesofdefiance——how，firstly，Jan’soldmothershouldbeturnedoutofherhome，hisoldfatherputintoprisonfordebt;how，secondly，Janhimselfshouldbepursuedwithoutremorse，hisshipbeboughtoverhisheadbeforehecouldcompletethepurchase。TheinterviewwouldaffordtoNicholasSnyderssportafterhisownsoul。SinceJan’sreturnthedaybefore，hehadbeenlookingforwardtoit。Therefore，feelingsureitwasJan，hecried"Comein！"quitecheerily。

ButitwasnotJan。ItwassomebodyNicholasSnydershadneverseteyesonbefore。Andneither，afterthatonevisit，didNicholasSnyderseverseteyesuponhimagain。Thelightwasfading，andNicholasSnyderswasnotthemantolightcandlesbeforetheywereneeded，sothathewasneverabletodescribewithanyprecisionthestranger’sappearance。Nicholasthoughtheseemedanoldman，butalertinallhismovements;whilehiseyes——theonethingabouthimNicholassawwithanyclearness——werecuriouslybrightandpiercing。

"Whoareyou？"askedNicholasSnyders，takingnopainstodisguisehisdisappointment。

"Iamapedlar，"answeredthestranger。Hisvoicewasclearandnotunmusical，withjustthesuspicionofroguishnessbehind。

"Notwantinganything，"answeredNicholasSnydersdrily。"Shutthedoorandbecarefulofthestep。"

Butinsteadthestrangertookachairanddrewitnearer，and，himselfinshadow，lookedstraightintoNicholasSnyders’faceandlaughed。

"Areyouquitesure，NicholasSnyders？Areyouquitesurethereisnothingyourequire？"

"Nothing，"growledNicholasSnyders——"exceptthesightofyourback。"

Thestrangerbentforward，andwithhislong，leanhandtouchedNicholasSnydersplayfullyupontheknee。"Wouldn’tyoulikeasoul，NicholasSnyders？"heasked。

"Thinkofit，"continuedthestrangepedlar，beforeNicholascouldrecoverpowerofspeech。"Forfortyyearsyouhavedrunkthejoyofbeingmeanandcruel。Areyounottiredofthetaste，NicholasSnyders？Wouldn’tyoulikeachange？Thinkofit，NicholasSnyders——thejoyofbeingloved，ofhearingyourselfblessed，insteadofcursed！Wouldn’titbegoodfun，NicholasSnyders——justbywayofachange？Ifyoudon’tlikeit，youcanreturnandbeyourselfagain。"

WhatNicholasSnyders，recallingallthingsafterwards，couldneverunderstandwaswhyhesatthere，listeninginpatiencetothestranger’stalk;for，atthetime，itseemedtohimthejestingofawanderingfool。Butsomethingaboutthestrangerhadimpressedhim。

"Ihaveitwithme，"continuedtheoddpedlar;"andasforprice——"

Thestrangermadeagestureindicatingdismissalofallsordiddetails。"Ilookformyrewardinwatchingtheresultoftheexperiment。Iamsomethingofaphilosopher。Itakeaninterestinthesematters。See。"Thestrangerdivedbetweenhislegsandproducedfromhispackasilverflaskofcunningworkmanshipandlaiditonthetable。

"Itsflavourisnotunpleasant，"explainedthestranger。"Alittlebitter;butonedoesnotdrinkitbythegoblet:awineglassful，suchasonewouldofoldTokay，whilethemindofbothisfixedonthesamethought:’Maymysoulpassintohim，mayhispassintome！’Theoperationisquitesimple:thesecretlieswithinthedrug。"Thestrangerpattedthequaintflaskasthoughithadbeensomelittledog。

"Youwillsay:’WhowillexchangesoulswithNicholasSnyders？’"Thestrangerappearedtohavecomepreparedwithananswertoallquestions。"Myfriend，youarerich;youneednotfear。Itisthepossessionmenvaluetheleastofalltheyhave。Chooseyoursoulanddriveyourbargain。Ileavethattoyouwithonewordofcounselonly:youwillfindtheyoungreadierthantheold——theyoung，towhomtheworldpromisesallthingsforgold。Chooseyouafine，fair，fresh，youngsoul，NicholasSnyders;andchooseitquickly。Yourhairissomewhatgrey，myfriend。Taste，beforeyoudie，thejoyofliving。"

Thestrangepedlarlaughedand，rising，closedhispack。NicholasSnydersneithermovednorspoke，untilwiththesoftclangingofthemassivedoorhissensesreturnedtohim。Then，seizingtheflaskthestrangerhadleftbehindhim，hesprangfromhischair，meaningtoflingitafterhimintothestreet。Buttheflashingofthefirelightonitsburnishedsurfacestayedhishand。

"Afterall，thecaseisofvalue，"Nicholaschuckled，andputtheflaskasideand，lightingthetwotallcandles，buriedhimselfagaininhisgreen—boundledger。YetstillfromtimetotimeNicholasSnyders’eyewouldwandertowherethesilverflaskremainedhalfhiddenamongdustypapers。Andlatertherecameagainaknockingatthedoor，andthistimeitreallywasyoungJanwhoentered。

Janheldouthisgreathandacrossthelittereddesk。

"Wepartedinanger，NicholasSnyders。Itwasmyfault。Youwereintheright。Iaskyoutoforgiveme。Iwaspoor。Itwasselfishofmetowishthelittlemaidtosharewithmemypoverty。ButnowIamnolongerpoor。"

"Sitdown，"respondedNicholasinkindlytone。"Ihaveheardofit。

Sonowyouaremasterandtheownerofyourship——yourveryown。"

"Myveryownafteronemorevoyage，"laughedJan。"IhaveBurgomasterAllart’spromise。"

"Apromiseisnotaperformance，"hintedNicholas。"BurgomasterAllartisnotarichman;ahigherbidmighttempthim。Anothermightstepinbetweenyouandbecometheowner。"

Janonlylaughed。"Why，thatwouldbetheworkofanenemy，which，Godbepraised，IdonotthinkthatIpossess。"

"Luckylad！"commentedNicholas;"sofewofusarewithoutenemies。

Andyourparents，Jan，willtheylivewithyou？"

"Wewishedit，"answeredJan，"bothChristinaandI。Butthemotherisfeeble。Theoldmillhasgrownintoherlife。"

"Icanunderstand，"agreedNicholas。"Theoldvinetornfromtheoldwallwithers。Andyourfather，Jan;peoplewillgossip。Themillispaying？"

Janshookhishead。"Itneverwillagain;andthedebtshaunthim。

Butallthat，asItellhim，isathingofthepast。Hiscreditorshaveagreedtolooktomeandwait。"

"Allofthem？"queriedNicholas。

"AllofthemIcoulddiscover，"laughedJan。

NicholasSnyderspushedbackhischairandlookedatJanwithasmileuponhiswrinkledface。"AndsoyouandChristinahavearrangeditall？"

"Withyourconsent，sir，"answeredJan。

"Youwillwaitforthat？"askedNicholas。

"Weshouldliketohaveit，sir。"Jansmiled，butthetoneofhisvoicefellagreeablyonNicholasSnyders’ear。NicholasSnyderslovedbestbeatingthedogthat，growledandshoweditsteeth。

"Betternotwaitforthat，"saidNicholasSnyders。"Youmighthavetowaitlong。"

Janrose，anangryflushuponhisface。"Sonothingchangesyou，NicholasSnyders。Haveityourownway，then。"

"Youwillmarryherinspiteofme？"

"Inspiteofyouandofyourfriendsthefiends，andofyourmastertheDevil！"flungoutJan。ForJanhadasoulthatwasgenerousandbraveandtenderandexcessivelyshort—tempered。Eventhebestofsoulshavetheirfailings。

"Iamsorry，"saidoldNicholas。

"Iamgladtohearit，"answeredJan。

"Iamsorryforyourmother，"explainedNicholas。"Thepoordame，I

fear，willbehomelessinheroldage。Themortgageshallbeforeclosed，Jan，onyourwedding—day。Iamsorryforyourfather，Jan。Hiscreditors，Jan——youhaveoverlookedjustone。Iamsorryforhim，Jan。Prisonhasalwaysbeenhisdread。Iamsorryevenforyou，myyoungfriend。Youwillhavetobeginlifeoveragain。

BurgomasterAllartisinthehollowofmyhand。Ihavebuttosaytheword，yourshipismine。Iwishyoujoyofyourbride，myyoungfriend。Youmustloveherverydearly——youwillbepayingahighpriceforher。"

ItwasNicholasSnyders’grinthatmaddenedJan。Hesoughtforsomethingthat，thrownstraightatthewickedmouth，shouldsilenceit，andbychancehishandlightedonthepedlar’ssilverflask。InthesameinstanceNicholasSnyders’handhadcloseduponitalso。Thegrinhaddiedaway。

"Sitdown，"commandedNicholasSnyders。"Letustalkfurther。"Andtherewasthatinhisvoicethatcompelledtheyoungerman’sobedience。

"Youwonder，Jan，whyIseekalwaysangerandhatred。Iwonderattimesmyself。Whydogenerousthoughtsnevercometome，astoothermen！Listen，Jan;Iaminawhimsicalmood。Suchthingscannotbe，butitisawhimofminetothinkitmighthavebeen。Sellmeyoursoul，Jan，sellmeyoursoul，thatI，too，maytastethisloveandgladnessthatIhearabout。Foralittlewhile，Jan，onlyforalittlewhile，andIwillgiveyouallyoudesire。"

Theoldmanseizedhispenandwrote。

"See，Jan，theshipisyoursbeyondmishap;themillgoesfree;yourfathermayholduphisheadagain。AndallIask，Jan，isthatyoudrinktome，willingthewhilethatyoursoulmaygofromyouandbecomethesoulofoldNicholasSnyders——foralittlewhile，Jan，onlyforalittlewhile。"

Withfeverishhandstheoldmanhaddrawnthestopperfromthepedlar’sflagon，hadpouredthewineintotwinglasses。Jan’sinclinationwastolaugh，buttheoldman’seagernesswasalmostfrenzy。Surelyhewasmad;butthatwouldnotmakelessbindingthepaperhehadsigned。Atruemandoesnotjestwithhissoul，butthefaceofChristinawasshiningdownonJanfromoutthegloom。

"Youwillmeanit？"whisperedNicholasSnyders。

"MaymysoulpassfrommeandenterintoNicholasSnyders！"answeredJan，replacinghisemptyglassuponthetable。Andthetwostoodlookingforamomentintooneanother’seyes。

Andthehighcandlesonthelittereddeskflickeredandwentout，asthoughabreathhadblownthem，firstoneandthentheother。

"Imustbegettinghome，"camethevoiceofJanfromthedarkness。

"Whydidyoublowoutthecandles？"

"Wecanlightthemagainfromthefire，"answeredNicholas。HedidnotaddthathehadmeanttoaskthatsamequestionofJan。Hethrustthemamongtheglowinglogs，firstoneandthentheother;andtheshadowscreptbackintotheircorners。

"YouwillnotstopandseeChristina？"askedNicholas。

"Notto—night，"answeredJan。

"ThepaperthatIsigned，"Nicholasremindedhim——"youhaveit？"

"Ihadforgottenit，"Jananswered。

Theoldmantookitfromthedeskandhandedittohim。Janthrustitintohispocketandwentout。Nicholasboltedthedoorbehindhimandreturnedtohisdesk;satlongthere，hiselbowrestingontheopenledger。

Nicholaspushedtheledgerasideandlaughed。"Whatfoolery！Asifsuchthingscouldbe！Thefellowmusthavebewitchedme。"

Nicholascrossedtothefireandwarmedhishandsbeforetheblaze。

"Still，Iamgladheisgoingtomarrythelittlelass。Agoodlad，agoodlad。"

Nicholasmusthavefallenasleepbeforethefire。Whenheopenedhiseyes，itwastomeetthegreydawn。Hefeltcold，stiff，hungry，anddecidedlycross。WhyhadnotChristinawokehimupandgivenhimhissupper。Didshethinkhehadintendedtopassthenightonawoodenchair？Thegirlwasanidiot。Hewouldgoupstairsandtellherthroughthedoorjustwhathethoughtofher。

Hiswayupstairsledthroughthekitchen。Tohisastonishment，theresatChristina，asleepbeforetheburnt—outgrate。

"Uponmyword，"mutteredNicholastohimself，"peopleinthishousedon’tseemtoknowwhatbedsarefor！"

ButitwasnotChristina，soNicholastoldhimself。Christinahadthelookofafrightenedrabbit:ithadalwaysirritatedhim。Thisgirl，eveninhersleep，woreanimpertinentexpression——adelightfullyimpertinentexpression。Besides，thisgirlwaspretty——marvellouslypretty。Indeed，soprettyagirlNicholashadneverseeninallhislifebefore。Whyhadthegirls，whenNicholaswasyoung，beensoentirelydifferent！AsuddenbitternessseizedNicholas:itwasasthoughhehadjustlearntthatlongago，withoutknowingit，hehadbeenrobbed。

Thechildmustbecold。Nicholasfetchedhisfur—linedcloakandwrappeditabouther。

Therewassomethingelseheoughttodo。Theideacametohimwhiledrawingthecloakaroundhershoulders，verygently，nottodisturbher——somethinghewantedtodo，ifonlyhecouldthinkwhatitwas。

Thegirl’slipswereparted。Sheappearedtobespeakingtohim，askinghimtodothisthing——ortellinghimnottodoit。Nicholascouldnotbesurewhich。Halfadozentimesheturnedaway，andhalfadozentimesstolebacktowhereshesatsleepingwiththatdelightfullyimpertinentexpressiononherface，herlipsparted。Butwhatshewanted，orwhatitwashewanted，Nicholascouldnotthink。

PerhapsChristinawouldknow。PerhapsChristinawouldknowwhoshewasandhowshegotthere。Nicholasclimbedthestairs，swearingatthemforcreaking。

Christina’sdoorwasopen。Noonewasintheroom;thebedhadnotbeensleptupon。Nicholasdescendedthecreakingstairs。

Thegirlwasstillasleep。CoulditbeChristinaherself？Nicholasexaminedthedeliciousfeaturesonebyone。Neverbefore，sofarashecouldrecollect，hadheseenthegirl;yetaroundherneck——Nicholashadnotnoticeditbefore——layChristina’slocket，risingandfallingasshebreathed。Nicholasknewitwell;theonethingbelongingtohermotherChristinahadinsistedonkeeping。Theonethingaboutwhichshehadeverdefiedhim。Shewouldneverhavepartedwiththatlocket。ItmustbeChristinaherself。Butwhathadhappenedtoher？Ortohimself。Remembrancerushedinuponhim。Theoddpedlar！ThescenewithJan！Butsurelyallthathadbeenadream？Yetthereuponthelittereddeskstillstoodthepedlar’ssilverflask，togetherwiththetwinstainedglasses。

Nicholastriedtothink，buthisbrainwasinawhirl。Arayofsunshinestreamingthroughthewindowfellacrossthedustyroom。

Nicholashadneverseenthesun，thathecouldrecollect。