The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 391: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

374 THE COURT OF LONDON cell, and he will think it odd if I have not even begun to put the brush to your face.” Iimmerson accordingly submitted himself to the process of shaving, and by the time it was over, the turnkey made his appearance to let the barber out. As nour after hour now passed away, Emmerson continued to yield himself up to the wildest hopes, and yet his ex- terior was composed and tranquil as he sat in the solitude oi his cell giving way to these sanguine visions. He resem- bied the teriaki, or Oriental opium-eater, who without mov- ing trom his seat, and with an unruffled and unvarying equanimity of countenance, launches himself on the sunny ocean oi his excited imaginings, visits in fancy the most delicious climates of the world, revels in every joy, partakes in every pleasure, and not merely forgets every source of earthly uneasiness, but conjures up ten thousand causes of Elysian bliss. In a similarly dreamy state did Emmerson while away. the time. His character seemed to be altogether changed by his misfortunes. Once eminently practical in all his pursuits, he was now a mere visionary; but then, it was so necessary now to cheat the mind of its sources of terror, lull the soul into confidence, and conjure up the delusions of hope to displace the dark realities of despair. The chaplain visited the cell, and then Emmerson, awaken- ing from his dream, listened attentively to all that the reverend gentleman had to say. For Emmerson had always been a hypocrite with regard to religion, and it suited him to be more so now, so that he might appear to have re- nounced every thought for this life and thus lull asleep all suspicion respecting his hope of escape. The chaplain passed an hour with him, and then withdrew in the belief that the condemned man was very penitent and in a most admirable state of mind, considering all things. Therefore, in conse- quence of the reverend gentleman’s report, it was deemed totally unnecessary to place anybody in the condemned cell to keep watch upon Emmerson. Indeed, such was not the custom at the time of which we are writing, save in those cases where there was positive ground for apprehending an attempt at suicide. The day was slipping away, and Emmerson began to wonder that his wife and daughter had not been to see him. EORMICLIOO KS (E(0)