Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/455

"And does she still declare her innocence?"

"She does, most solemnly."

"Then, be sure that she is innocent. Oh! be sure of it."

"I would to God that I could be sure."

"You have seen her since?"

"But once: but once: and that was recently. My daughter sees her twice a-year. That request I could not deny her. They meet here, in this very village."

"Why!" exclaimed the reverend gentleman, "I have seen two carriages at the door of the inn frequently, and always on particular days; and now I come to look at it, yours is one of them! Bless my life and soul, how extraordinary that is! How often have I wondered why they met there!"

"They have met for that purpose; but my daughter, until a short time since, never knew that she had a mother living."

"I now," said the reverend gentleman, "understand and appreciate your anxiety to be satisfied on this important point; and that satisfaction, be assured, as far as Sylvester is concerned, I will give you."

"If I can be satisfied with reference to him, I shall be satisfied completely: for his father just before his death wrote to me, and stated that if he were there the night in question, he was there in a state of somnambulism; the idea of which I then utterly rejected, but feel disposed to entertain it now. If, therefore, I can be satisfied with reference to the son, I shall be satisfied with reference to the father. It is true I never heard of somnambulism being hereditary; but that will sufficiently satisfy me."

"Then that satisfaction you shall have. I pledge myself to satisfy you. I undertake to bring before you proofs which you yourself shall hold to be irrefragable. I am now preparing a statement of facts to be laid before Sir Charles—who, although he has a verdict, is not at all convinced of its justice—and a copy of that statement you shall have. I will bring before you witnesses here, to prove all that has occurred in this place; and I'll take you up to town and introduce you to Dr. Delolme and his son, whose evidence I am certain you will hold to be conclusive."

"Is the Mr. Delolme who appeared on the trial, the son of Dr. Delome?"

"Yes."

"I knew him well. He was one of the most intimate friends of Dr. Sound."

"He was so."

"Oh! I knew him perfectly well; but I have not seen him for many, many years. Since that unhappy affair, I have kept myself entirely aloof from the world."

"Then let us go to London together and see him, and Thomas, his son."

"I would go, sir, to the end of the world, to be satisfied."

"That is sufficient. You shall first have this statement—the truth