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abet him in the outrage。 As for myself； I am simply Hop…Frog； the jester
and this is my last jest。〃
Owing to the high combustibility of both the flax and the tar to which it
adhered； the dwarf had scarcely made an end of his brief speech before the
work of vengeance was complete。 The eight corpses swung in their chains； a
fetid； blackened； hideous； and indistinguishable mass。 The cripple hurled
his torch at them； clambered leisurely to the ceiling； and disappeared
through the sky…light。
It is supposed that Trippetta； stationed on the roof of the saloon； had
been the accomplice of her friend in his fiery revenge； and that；
together； they effected their escape to their own country： for neither was
seen again。
~~~ End of Text ~~~
THE MAN OF THE CROWD。
Ce grand malheur； de ne pouvoir 阾re seul。
_La Bruy鑢e_。
IT was well said of a certain German book that 〃_er lasst sich nicht
lesen_〃 … it does not permit itself to be read。 There are some secrets
which do not permit themselves to be told。 Men die nightly in their beds；
wringing the hands of ghostly confessors and looking them piteously in the
eyes die with despair of heart and convulsion of throat； on account of
the hideousness of mysteries which will not suffer themselves to be
revealed。 Now and then； alas； the conscience of man takes up a burthen so
heavy in horror that it can be thrown down only into the grave。 And thus
the essence of all crime is undivulged。
Not long ago； about the closing in of an evening in autumn； I sat at
the large bow window of the D Coffee…House in London。 For some months
I had been ill in health； but was now convalescent； and； with returning
strength； found myself in one of those happy moods which are so precisely
the converse of ennui … moods of the keenest appetency； when the film from
the mental vision departs … the 〃PL》 0 BDT ；B？L … and the intellect；
electrified； surpasses as greatly its every…day condition； as does the
vivid yet candid reason of Leibnitz； the mad and flimsy rhetoric of
Gorgias。 Merely to breathe was enjoyment； and I derived positive pleasure
even from many of the legitimate sources of pain。 I felt a calm but
inquisitive interest in every thing。 With a cigar in my mouth and a
newspaper in my lap； I had been amusing myself for the greater part of the
afternoon； now in poring over advertisements； now in observing the
promiscuous company in the room； and now in peering through the smoky
panes into the street。
This latter is one of the principal thoroughfares of the city； and had
been very much crowded during the whole day。 But； as the darkness came on；
the throng momently increased； and； by the time the lamps were well
lighted； two dense and continuous tides of population were rushing past
the door。 At this particular period of the evening I had never before been
in a similar situation； and the tumultuous sea of human heads filled me；
therefore； with a delicious novelty of emotion。 I gave up； at length； all
care of things within the hotel； and became absorbed in contemplation of
the scene without。
At first my observations took an abstract and generalizing turn。 I looked
at the passengers in masses； and thought of them in their aggregate
relations。 Soon； however； I descended to details； and regarded with minute
interest the innumerable varieties of figure； dress； air； gait； visage；
and expression of countenance。
By far the greater number of those who went by had a satisfied
business…like demeanor； and seemed to be thinking only of making their way
through the press。 Their brows were knit； and their eyes rolled quickly；
when pushed against by fellow…wayfarers they evinced no symptom of
impatience； but adjusted their clothes and hurried on。 Others； still a
numerous class； were restless in their movements； had flushed faces； and
talked and gesticulated to themselves； as if feeling in solitude on
account of the very denseness of the company around。 When impeded in their
progress； these people suddenly ceased muttering； but re…doubled their
gesticulations； and awaited； with an absent and overdone smile upon the
lips； the course of the persons impeding them。 If jostled； they bowed
profusely to the jostlers； and appeared overwhelmed with confusion。 …
There was nothing very distinctive about these two large classes beyond
what I have noted。 Their habiliments belonged to that order which is
pointedly termed the decent。 They were undoubtedly noblemen； merchants；
attorneys； tradesmen； stock…jobbers … the Eupatrids and the common…places
of society … men of leisure and men actively engaged in affairs of their
own … conducting business upon their own responsibility。 They did not
greatly excite my attention。
The tribe of clerks was an obvious one and here I discerned two remarkable
divisions。 There were the junior clerks of flash houses … young gentlemen
with tight coats； bright boots； well…oiled hair； and supercilious lips。
Setting aside a certain dapperness of carriage； which may be termed
deskism for want of a better word； the manner of these persons seemed to
me an exact fac…simile of what had been the perfection of bon ton about
twelve or eighteen months before。 They wore the cast…off graces of the
gentry； … and this； I believe； involves the best definition of the class。
The division of the upper clerks of staunch firms； or of the 〃steady old
fellows；〃 it was not possible to mistake。 These were known by their coats
and pantaloons of black or brown； made to sit comfortably； with white
cravats and waistcoats； broad solid…looking shoes； and thick hose or
gaiters。 … They had all slightly bald heads； from which the right ears；
long used to pen…holding； had an odd habit of standing off on end。 I
observed that they always removed or settled their hats with both hands；
and wore watches； with short gold chains of a substantial and ancient
pattern。 Theirs was the affectation of respectability； … if indeed there
be an affectation so honorable。
There were many individuals of dashing appearance； whom I easily
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