ARTIFICIAL SOMNAMBULISM. 197 



of observation are necessary to detect want of veracity in any 

 man, though absence of veracity in any particular story may 

 not be easily detected or established. I am not one of those 

 who believe every story they hear, and trust in every one they 

 meet. But I have noticed one or two features by which the 

 habitual teller of untruths may be detected very readily, as may 

 also one who, without telling actual falsehoods, tries to heighten 

 the effect of any story he may have to tell, by strengthening 

 all the particulars. My experience in this respect is unlike 

 Dickens's, who believed, and indeed found, that a man whom 

 on first seeing he distrusted, and justly, could explain away 

 the unfavourable impression. ' My first impression/ he says, 

 ' about such people, founded on face and manner alone, was 

 invariably true ; my mistake was in suffering them to come 

 nearer to me and explain themselves away.' I have found it 

 otherwise ; though of course Dickens was right about his 

 own experience : the matter depends entirely on the idio- 

 syncrasies of the observer. I have often been deceived by 

 face and expression : never, to the best of my belief (and 

 belief in this case is not mere opinion, but is based on results), 

 by manner of speaking. One peculiarity I have never found 

 wanting in habitually mendacious persons a certain intona- 

 tion which I cannot describe, but recognise in a moment, 

 suggestive of the weighing of each sentence as it is being 

 uttered, as though to consider how it would tell. Another, 

 is a peculiarity of manner, but it only shows itself during 

 speech ; it is a sort of watchfulness often disguised under a 

 careless tone, but perfectly recognisable however disguised. 

 Now, the gentleman who gave me the experience I am about 

 to relate, conveyed to my mind, by every intonation of his 

 voice and every peculiarity and change of manner, the idea 

 of truthfulness. I cannot convey to others the impression 

 thus conveyed to myself : nor do I expect that others will 

 share my own confidence : I simply state the case as I know 

 it, and as far as I know it. It will, however, be seen that a 

 part of the evidence was confirmed on the spot. 



The conversation turned on the curability of consump- 



