Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/390

Immediately on his arrival in town, Sylvester called on his friend Tom Delolme, who received him as usual with great cordiality, and was indeed happy to see him. The greeting, however, was brief: for Sylvester's anxiety to communicate the idea he had conceived, prompted him to open the subject at once.

"Tom," said he, "you know, I believe, something about somnambulism?"

"Sobdabbulisb?" replied Tom. "Yes: I kdow pretty well all that is kdowd about the batter!"

"Well, then, I wish to consult you on the subject; for I have a strong suspicion that I'm a somnambulist."

"Dodsedse!" returned Tom.

"I really suspect that I am!"

"You a sobdabbulist."

"Well! what idduced that suspiciod?"

"Why, Tom, let me go where I may, mystery follows me. Something of an extraordinary and unaccountable character is sure to occur, and that at night. If I go down to Cotherstone Grange a 'ghost' is certain to appear in the village: which 'ghost' never appears there when I am away. I slept here, you will remember, just before I left town. Your servant declared that he saw 'a ghost' then."

"I recollect. That 'ghost' broke by pier-glass. I see. But have you doe other groudds for suspiciod?"

"There have been innumerable occurrences for which I have been utterly unable to account; but that which makes me more immediately anxious to ascertain whether I am in reality a somnambulist or not, is the approaching trial. Sir Charles, you know, declares that he saw me there, while his butler is fully prepared to swear it. Now, I am unconscious of having been there—perfectly unconscious; and if I was there, to what but somnambulism can it be ascribed?"

"I see: I see it all—clearly. You have dever beed discovered id a state of sobdabbulisb?"

"Never."

"Did you ever od awakidg fide yourself id ady stradge place, or id ady place id which you'd doe idea of beidg?"

"Never: I have always, on awaking, found myself in bed."

"Have you directed ady persod to watch you at all?"

"No one has had ever the slightest idea of my having entertained this suspicion. You are the only man to whom I have breathed a syllable on the subject. I have been for some time endeavouring to prove the fact myself. I've tied strings to my ancle, locked my room-door, and hid the key."