understood as belonging to the race of swell pick…pockets with which all
great cities are infested。 I watched these gentry with much
inquisitiveness； and found it difficult to imagine how they should ever be
mistaken for gentlemen by gentlemen themselves。 Their voluminousness of
wristband； with an air of excessive frankness； should betray them at once。
The gamblers； of whom I descried not a few； were still more easily
recognisable。 They wore every variety of dress； from that of the desperate
thimble…rig bully； with velvet waistcoat； fancy neckerchief； gilt chains；
and filagreed buttons； to that of the scrupulously inornate clergyman；
than which nothing could be less liable to suspicion。 Still all were
distinguished by a certain sodden swarthiness of complexion； a filmy
dimness of eye； and pallor and compression of lip。 There were two other
traits； moreover； by which I could always detect them； … a guarded lowness
of tone in conversation； and a more than ordinary extension of the thumb
in a direction at right angles with the fingers。 … Very often； in company
with these sharpers； I observed an order of men somewhat different in
habits； but still birds of a kindred feather。 They may be defined as the
gentlemen who live by their wits。 They seem to prey upon the public in two
battalions … that of the dandies and that of the military men。 Of the
first grade the leading features are long locks and smiles； of the second
frogged coats and frowns。
Descending in the scale of what is termed gentility； I found darker and
deeper themes for speculation。 I saw Jew pedlars； with hawk eyes flashing
from countenances whose every other feature wore only an expression of
abject humility； sturdy professional street beggars scowling upon
mendicants of a better stamp； whom despair alone had driven forth into the
night for charity； feeble and ghastly invalids； upon whom death had placed
a sure hand； and who sidled and tottered through the mob； looking every
one beseechingly in the face； as if in search of some chance consolation；
some lost hope； modest young girls returning from long and late labor to a
cheerless home； and shrinking more tearfully than indignantly from the
glances of ruffians； whose direct contact； even； could not be avoided；
women of the town of all kinds and of all ages … the unequivocal beauty in
the prime of her womanhood； putting one in mind of the statue in Lucian；
with the surface of Parian marble； and the interior filled with filth …
the loathsome and utterly lost leper in rags … the wrinkled； bejewelled
and paint…begrimed beldame； making a last effort at youth … the mere child
of immature form； yet； from long association； an adept in the dreadful
coquetries of her trade； and burning with a rabid ambition to be ranked
the equal of her elders in vice； drunkards innumerable and indescribable …
some in shreds and patches； reeling； inarticulate； with bruised visage and
lack…lustre eyes … some in whole although filthy garments； with a slightly
unsteady swagger； thick sensual lips； and hearty…looking rubicund faces …
others clothed in materials which had once been good； and which even now
were scrupulously well brushed … men who walked with a more than naturally
firm and springy step； but whose countenances were fearfully pale； whose
eyes hideously wild and red； and who clutched with quivering fingers； as
they strode through the crowd； at every object which came within their
reach； beside these； pie…men； porters； coal… heavers； sweeps；
organ…grinders； monkey…exhibiters and ballad mongers； those who vended
with those who sang； ragged artizans and exhausted laborers of every
description； and all full of a noisy and inordinate vivacity which jarred
discordantly upon the ear； and gave an aching sensation to the eye。
As the night deepened； so deepened to me the interest of the scene； for
not only did the general character of the crowd materially alter （its
gentler features retiring in the gradual withdrawal of the more orderly
portion of the people； and its harsher ones coming out into bolder relief；
as the late hour brought forth every species of infamy from its den；） but
the rays of the gas…lamps； feeble at first in their struggle with the
dying day； had now at length gained ascendancy； and threw over every thing
a fitful and garish lustre。 All was dark yet splendid … as that ebony to
which has been likened the style of Tertullian。
The wild effects of the light enchained me to an examination of individual
faces； and although the rapidity with which the world of light flitted
before the window； prevented me from casting more than a glance upon each
visage； still it seemed that； in my then peculiar mental state； I could
frequently read； even in that brief interval of a glance； the history of
long years。
With my brow to the glass； I was thus occupied in scrutinizing the mob；
when suddenly there came into view a countenance （that of a decrepid old
man； some sixty…five or seventy years of age；） … a countenance which at
once arrested and absorbed my whole attention； on account of the absolute
idiosyncrasy of its expression。 Any thing even remotely resembling that
expression I had never seen before。 I well remember that my first thought；
upon beholding it； was that Retzch； had he viewed it； would have greatly
preferred it to his own pictural incarnations of the fiend。 As I
endeavored； during the brief minute of my original survey； to form some
analysis of the meaning conveyed； there arose confusedly and paradoxically
within my mind； the ideas of vast mental power； of caution； of
penuriousness； of avarice； of coolness； of malice； of blood thirstiness；
of triumph； of merriment； of excessive terror； of intense … of supreme
despair。 I felt singularly aroused； startled； fascinated。 〃How wild a
history；〃 I said to myself； 〃is written within that bosom！〃 Then came a
craving desire to keep the man in view … to know more of him。 Hurriedly
putting on an overcoat； and seizing my hat and cane； I made my way into
the street； and pushed through the crowd in the direction which I had seen
him take； for he had already disappeared。 With some little difficulty I at
length came within sight of him； approached； and followed him closely； yet
cautiously； so as not to attract his attention。
I had now a good opportunity of examining his person。 He was short in
stature； very thin； and apparently very feeble。 His clothes； generally；
were filthy and ragged； but as he came； now and then； within the strong
glare of a lamp； I perceived that his linen； although dirty； was of
beautiful texture； and my vision deceived me； or； through a rent in a
closely…buttoned and evidently second…handed roquelaire which enveloped
him； I caught a glimpse both of a diamond and of a dagger。 These
observations heightened my curiosity； and I resolved to follow the
stranger whithersoever he should go。
It was now fully night…fall； and a thick humid fog hung over the city；
soon ending in a settled and heavy rain。 This change of weather had an odd
effect upon the crowd； the whole of which was at once put into new
commotion； and overshadowed by a world of umbrellas。 The waver； the
jostle； and the hum increased in a tenfold degree。 For my own part I did
not much regard the rain … the lurking of an old fever in my system
rendering the moisture somewhat too dangerously pleasant。 Tying a
handkerchief about my mouth； I kept on。 For half an hour the old man held
his way with difficulty along the great thoroughfare； and I here walked
close at his elbow through fear of losing sight of him。 Never once turning
his head to look back； he did not observe me。 By and bye he passed into a
cross street； which； although densely filled with people； was not quite so
much thronged as the main one he had quitted。 Here a change in his
demeanor became evident。 He walked more slowly and with less object than
before … more hesitatingly。 He crossed and re…crossed the way repeatedly
without apparent aim； and the press was still so thick that； at every such
movement； I was obliged to follow him closely。 The street was a narrow and
long one； and his course lay within it for nearly an hour； during which
the passengers had gradually diminished to about that number which is
ordinarily seen at noon in Broadway near the Park … so vast a difference
is there between a London populace and that of the most frequented
American city。 A second turn brought us into a square； brilliantly
lighted； and overflowing with life。 The old manner of the stranger
re…appeared。 His chin fell upon his breast； while his eyes rolled wildly
from under his knit brows； in every direction； upon those who hemmed him
in。 He urged his way steadily and perseveringly。 I was surprised； however；
to find； upon his having made the circuit of the square； that he turned
and retraced his steps。 Still more was I astonished to see him repeat the
same walk several times once nearly detecting me as he came round with
a sudden movement。
In this exercise he spent another hour； at the end of which we met with
far less interruption from passengers than at first。 The rain fell fast；
the air grew cool； and the people were retiring to their homes。 With a
gesture of impatience； the wanderer passed into a bye…street comparatively
deserted。 Down this； some quarter of a mile long； he rushed with an
activity I could not have dreamed of seeing in one so aged； and which put
me to much trouble in pursuit。 A few minutes brought us to a large and
busy bazaar； with the localities of which the stranger appeared well
acquainted； and where his original demeanor again became apparent； as he
forced his way to and fro； without aim； among the host of buyers and
sellers。
During the hour and a half； or thereabouts； which we passed in this place；
it required much caution on my part to keep him within reach without
attracting his observation。 Luckily I wore a pair of caoutchouc
over…shoes； and could move about in perfect silence。 At no moment did he
see that I watched him。 He entered shop after shop； priced nothing； spoke
no word； and looked at all objects with a wild and vacant stare。 I was now
utterly amazed at his behavior； and firmly resolved that we shou