O Mandarim

by Eça de Queirós

"O Mandarim" by Eça de Queirós is a novella first published in 1880. When a poor Portuguese civil servant receives a visit from the Devil, he's offered an irresistible proposition: ring a bell to inherit vast riches from a distant Chinese mandarin. After succumbing to temptation, Teodoro discovers that fabulous wealth brings unexpected torment. Haunted by his crime, he embarks on a journey to China seeking redemption, only to find that escaping the consequences of avarice may be impossible.