In some mysterious manner, the sight of this suffering brought balm to my aching heart.

The order of the young man was soon executed, and pouring out a tumbler of brandy, he took a deep draught.

The effect was instantaneous, he turned crimson, and for a moment almost fell back insensible.

I kept my eyes on him, for a voice within me kept crying out that there was some mysterious link connecting this man and myself, and that his life was in some manner interwoven with mine, and that the influence he would exercise over me would be for evil.

So strongly did this idea become rooted, that I should have left the _cafe_, had not my curiosity been so great.