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the lanes； the roads； in all quarters of the town—east； west； north；
and south—that man was seen gliding on like a shadow。 He was
always hurrying away。 Those who encountered him； saw him steal
past； caught sight of the backward glance； and so lost him in the
darkness。
This constant restlessness； and flitting to and fro； gave rise to
strange stories。 He was seen in such distant and remote places； at
times so nearly tallying with each other； that some doubted
whether there were not two of them； or more—some； whether he
had not unearthly means of travelling from spot to spot。 The
footpad hiding in a ditch had marked him passing like a ghost
along its brink； the vagrant had met him on the dark high…road；
the beggar had seen him pause upon the bridge to look down at
the water； and then sweep on again； they who dealt in bodies with
the surgeons could swear he slept in churchyards； and that they
had beheld him glide away among the tombs on their approach。
And as they told these stories to each other； one who had looked
about him would pull his neighbour by the sleeve； and there he
would be among them。
At last； one man—he was one of those whose commerce lay
among the graves—resolved to question this strange companion。
Next night； when he had eat his poor meal voraciously （he was
accustomed to do that； they had observed； as though he had no
other in the day）； this fellow sat down at his elbow。
‘A black night； master！’
‘It is a black night。’
‘Blacker than last； though that was pitchy too。 Didn’t I pass you
near the turnpike in the Oxford Road？’
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‘It’s like you may。 I don’t know。’
‘Come； come； master；’ cried the fellow； urged on by the looks of
his comrades； and slapping him on the shoulder； ‘be more
companionable and communicative。 Be more the gentleman in
this good company。 There are tales among us that you have sold
yourself to the devil； and I know not what。’
‘We all have； have we not？’ returned the stranger； looking up。
‘If we were fewer in number； perhaps he would give better wages。’
‘It goes rather hard with you； indeed；’ said the fellow； as the
stranger disclosed his haggard unwashed face； and torn clothes。
‘What of that？ Be merry； master。 A stave of a roaring song now’—
‘Sing you； if you desire to hear one；’ replied the other； shaking
him roughly off； ‘and don’t touch me if you’re a prudent man； I
carry arms which go off easily—they have done so； before now—
and make it dangerous for strangers who don’t know the trick of
them； to lay hands upon me。’
‘Do you threaten？’ said the fellow。
‘Yes；’ returned the other； rising and turning upon him； and
looking fiercely round as if in apprehension of a general attack。
His voice； and look； and bearing—all expressive of the wildest
recklessness and desperation—daunted while they repelled the
bystanders。 Although in a very different sphere of action now； they
were not without much of the effect they had wrought at the
Maypole Inn。
‘I am what you all are； and live as you all do；’ said the man
sternly； after a short silence。 ‘I am in hiding here like the rest； and
if we were surprised would perhaps do my part with the best of ye。
If it’s my humour to be left to myself； let me have it。 Otherwise；’—
and here he swore a tremendous oath—‘there’ll be mischief done
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in this place； though there are odds of a score against me。’
A low murmur； having its origin perhaps in a dread of the man
and the mystery that surrounded him； or perhaps in a sincere
opinion on the part of some of those present； that it would be an
inconvenient precedent to meddle too curiously with a
gentleman’s private affairs if he saw reason to conceal them；
warned the fellow who had occasioned this discussion that he had
best pursue it no further。 After a short time the strange man lay
down upon a bench to sleep； and when they thought of him again；
they found he was gone。
Next night； as soon as it was dark； he was abroad again and
traversing the streets； he was before the locksmith’s house more
than once； but the family were out； and it was close shut。 This
night he crossed London Bridge and passed into Southwark。 As he
glided down a bye street； a woman with a little basket on her arm；
turned into it at the other end。 Directly he observed her； he sought
the shelter of an archway； and stood aside until she had passed。
Then he emerged cautiously from his hiding…place； and followed。
She went into several shops to purchase various kinds of
household necessaries； and round every place at which she
stopped he hovered like her evil spirit； following her when she
reappeared。 It was nigh eleven o’clock； and the passengers in the
streets were thinning fast； when she turned； doubtless to go home。
The phantom still followed her。
She turned into the same bye street in which he had seen her
first； which； being free from shops； and narrow； was extremely
dark。 She quickened her pace here； as though distrustful of being
stopped； and robbed of such trifling property as she carried with
her。 He crept along on the other side of the road。 Had she been
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gifted with the speed of wind； it seemed as if his terrible shadow
would have tracked her down。
At length the widow—for she it was—reached her own door；
and； panting for breath； paused to take the key from her basket。 In
a flush and glow； with the haste she had made； and the pleasure of
being safe at home； she sto