Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/391

"Ah! that's of doe use. You'd be certaid while asleep to fide add hide the key agaid: that is, assubidg that you are a sobdabbulist. We bust see about this. If it be as you suspect, the proof will be highly ibportadt. We'll talk the batter over agaid by-add-bye. Add dow go up stairs, add have a wash. While you're gode, I'll ascertaid what we have id the house to eat."

Sylvester went up accordingly; and, on his return, found the table spread with cold chickens, beef, ham, and tongue, to the whole of which he did ample justice, and then had some coffee with Tom.

The library was then resorted to, and all the books they could find having reference to somnambulism were consulted. This occupied the whole of the evening; and it was at length decided that Sylvester should sleep that night in Tom's room, while Tom sat up in the room adjoining. The preliminaries having been thus arranged, Sylvester about twelve retired; and Tom took his seat at a table spread with books, cigars, and brandy-and-water.

In order that he might at once hear the slightest noise, Tom left the door of his room open; and, impressed with the importance of the proof desired, continued to listen with so much attention, that Sylvester could not have moved unheard.

From twelve till two o'clock all was still; but the clock had no sooner struck two, than Sylvester walked from one room to the other, and anxiously inquired if Tom had seen him.

"Doe," replied Tom. "Doe, I've deither seed dor heard you: all has beed still up to this tibe!"

"Then hadn't you better go to bed?"

"Doe, I shall dot go to bed to dight! That I have bade up by bide to. Go to sleep agaid: sobethidg bay occur yet."

"I should like to have one glass of brandy-and-water," said Sylvester, taking a seat at the table.

"Well, have it, by boy."

"And one cigar!"

"Oh! you'd better dot sboke."

"I think I should enjoy it."

"Well," returned Tom, who had not the slightest notion of Sylvester being asleep at the time; "if that's the case, you'd better go add put od your clothes. You'll sood get cold if you sit without theb.

Sylvester assented to this, and left the room; and having dressed himself partially, returned, filled his glass, lit a cigar, and began to smoke it.

"It's a singular thing that this cannot be proved," observed Sylvester, calmly, "isn't it?"

"Why," replied Tom, "this is but the first attebpt. We cad't have proof always the bobedt we wish it. It bay be proved yet, add that sood. We bust dot be ibpatiedt. I've just beed readidg here ad extraordidary case, that of a bricklayer's labourer, whose fellow-workbed kdew hib to sleep regularly four or five hours a day while at work, although the work was of so perilous a character. It appears that whed they first discovered this they were extrebely apprehedsive; but as the dovelty of the thidg wore away, their apprehedsiods were subdued. His