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。