Then he asked of his senses how he had got to the place where he stood.

He did not remember traversing the familiar highways and byways by which he was accustomed daily to make his way from his lodging to the shop.

Every object on the way had long been so well known to him as to cause a permanent impression in his brain, which was distinctly visible to him whenever he thought of the walk in any way, whether he had just been over the ground or not.

He could not now account to himself for his being so near Fischelowitz's shop, and he found it impossible to decide whether he had come thither by his usual route or not.

It was still harder to explain the reason for his coming, since the fifty marks were no nearer to his hand than before, and without them it was useless to think of entering.