endeavored，duringthebriefminuteofmyoriginalsurvey，toformsomeanalysisofthemeaningconveyed，therearoseconfusedlyandparadoxicallywithinmymind，theideasofvastmentalpower，ofcaution，ofpenuriousness，ofavarice，ofcoolness，ofmalice，ofbloodthirstiness，oftriumph，ofmerriment，ofexcessiveterror，ofintense-ofsupremedespair。Ifeltsingularlyaroused，startled，fascinated。“Howwildahistory。”Isaidtomyself，“iswrittenwithinthatbosom！”Thencameacravingdesiretokeepthemaninview-toknowmoreofhim。Hurriedlyputtingonanovercoat，andseizingmyhatandcane，Imademywayintothestreet，andpushedthroughthecrowdinthedirectionwhichIhadseenhimtake；forhehadalreadydisappeared。WithsomelittledifficultyIatlengthcamewithinsightofhim，approached，andfollowedhimclosely，yetcautiously，soasnottoattracthisattention。
Ihadnowagoodopportunityofexamininghisperson。Hewasshortinstature，verythin，andapparentlyveryfeeble。Hisclothes，generally，werefilthyandragged；butashecame，nowandthen，withinthestrongglareofalamp，Iperceivedthathislinen，althoughdirty，wasofbeautifultexture；andmyvisiondeceivedme，or，througharentinaclosely-buttonedandevidentlysecond-handedroquelairewhichenvelopedhim，Icaughtaglimpsebothofadiamondandofadagger。Theseobservationsheightenedmycuriosity，andIresolvedtofollowthestrangerwhithersoeverheshouldgo。
Itwasnowfullynight-fall，andathickhumidfoghungoverthecity，soonendinginasettledandheavyrain。Thischangeofweatherhadanoddeffectuponthecrowd，thewholeofwhichwasatonceputintonewcommotion，andovershadowedbyaworldofumbrellas。Thewaver，thejostle，andthehumincreasedinatenfolddegree。FormyownpartIdidnotmuchregardtherain-thelurkingofanoldfeverinmysystemrenderingthemoisturesomewhattoodangerouslypleasant。Tyingahandkerchiefaboutmymouth，Ikepton。Forhalfanhourtheoldmanheldhiswaywithdifficultyalongthegreatthoroughfare；andIherewalkedcloseathiselbowthroughfearoflosingsightofhim。Neveronceturninghisheadtolookback，hedidnotobserveme。Byandbyehepassedintoacrossstreet，which，althoughdenselyfilledwithpeople，wasnotquitesomuchthrongedasthemainonehehadquitted。Hereachangeinhisdemeanorbecameevident。Hewalkedmoreslowlyandwithlessobjectthanbefore-morehesitatingly。Hecrossedandre-crossedthewayrepeatedlywithoutapparentaim；andthepresswasstillsothickthat，ateverysuchmovement，Iwasobligedtofollowhimclosely。Thestreetwasanarrowandlongone，andhiscourselaywithinitfornearlyanhour，duringwhichthepassengershadgraduallydiminishedtoaboutthatnumberwhichisordinarilyseenatnooninBroadwaynearthePark-sovastadifferenceistherebetweenaLondonpopulaceandthatofthemostfrequentedAmericancity。Asecondturnbroughtusintoasquare，brilliantlylighted，andoverflowingwithlife。Theoldmannerofthestrangerre-appeared。Hischinfelluponhisbreast，whilehiseyesrolledwildlyfromunderhisknitbrows，ineverydirection，uponthosewhohemmedhimin。Heurgedhiswaysteadilyandperseveringly。Iwassurprised，however，tofind，uponhishavingmadethecircuitofthesquare，thatheturnedandretracedhissteps。StillmorewasIastonishedtoseehimrepeatthesamewalkseveraltimesoncenearlydetectingmeashecameroundwithasuddenmovement。
Inthisexercisehespentanotherhour，attheendofwhichwemetwithfarlessinterruptionfrompassengersthanatfirst。Therainfellfast；
theairgrewcool；andthepeoplewereretiringtotheirhomes。Withagestureofimpatience，thewandererpassedintoabye-streetcomparativelydeserted。Downthis，somequarterofamilelong，herushedwithanactivityIcouldnothavedreamedofseeinginonesoaged，andwhichputmetomuchtroubleinpursuit。Afewminutesbroughtustoalargeandbusybazaar，withthelocalitiesofwhichthestrangerappearedwellacquainted，andwherehisoriginaldemeanoragainbecameapparent，asheforcedhiswaytoandfro，withoutaim，amongthehostofbuyersandsellers。