Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/392

ebploybedt, of course, codsisted id supplyidg the bricklayers with hods of bricks add bortar, which he codveyed up ladders to the tops of houses while asleep, just as well add as safely as he did whed awake. He would attedd to all orders, edter idto codversatiod, add receive add deliver messages while id this state. He could, moreover, whed awake, recogdise voices which he happeded to have heard while asleep, if eved the persods who spoke were the bost perfect stradgers. His fellow-workbed frequedtly tried hib, id order to set aside all idcredulity, add dever kdew hib id ady sidgle idstadce to fail. He could tell the hour as well as they could; add therefore kdew as well whed to leave off work: he would dridk with theb, pay his share whed he had buddy, and play at cards while id a state of sobdab- bulisb: iddeed, doe ordidary observer could tell by his acts that he was dot thed perfectly awake. The way id which this rebarkable case was bade public, was this: He was id the habit of washidg hibself add chadgidg his dress whed he left off work—this he'd do, whether he hap- peded to be awake or asleep—add wud evedidg, havidg chadged his clothes as usual, add tied his workidg dress id a haddkerchief, he was accosted od his way hobe by a wobad, whob, after sobe little codversa- tiod, he perbitted to carry his buddle, of which she doe sooder got pos- sessiod, thad she rad up Hattod Garded, wedt dowd Saffrod Hill, got idto a house, add escaped. Well, the codsequedt excitebedt awoke hib; add, as he clearly recollected all that had occurred, he related the whole of the circubstadces to ad officer, who fadcied, frob the descriptiod, that he kdew the wobad well. She was therefore apprehedded, add although placed with a dubber of other wobed, the bad id ad idstadt recogdised her persod add voice; add, od searchidg her lodgidgs, the clothes were foudd! Dow this is a bost extraordidary case. You see this bad could recollect perfectly whed awake all that occurred while he slept. Gede- rally sobdabbulists do dot whed awake recollect what occurs duridg sleep; but, od the codtrary, that which they either hear or see while awake, bakes ad ibpressiod upod which duridg sleep they will act."

"That, if I am a somnambulist, is precisely the case with me," ob- served Sylvester, who, while smoking his cigar calmly, had listened with great attention. "I can recollect nothing when awake, which occurs during sleep. If I could, the mystery would soon be solved. I should like to have one game of chess," he added, "I have not had a game for a very long time. Will you have a game with me?"

"Do, dot dow," replied Tom; "I wadt you to go to bed agaid. It's of doe use by sittidg up, if you sit up with be: that's quite clear."

"Well, then, do you go to bed. I don't like the idea of your sitting up alone."

"I shall dot go to bed dow: that's settled. Cobe, old boy, cobe; fidish your glass add be off."

"Well," said Sylvester; "I will do so. What's o'clock?"

"Dearly half-past two."

"Half-past two. Then five hours more will settle it."

"I wish it bay, with all by heart."

"I'll drink that as a toast," said Sylvester; "I wish it may, with all