d stared at the scintillating
suns before him. For a brief time his eyes turned from one to another,
but finally they became fixed and he gazed only at one. In a moment
all the others were turned out, and that one revolved faster and
faster. Two or three times it seemed as though he tried to withdraw
his gaze, but eventually all resistance to the influence of the
dazzling light ceased. Leon sank back into a partly sitting posture
upon the rugs, and in a few moments the eyelids closed heavily, the
head sank upon the breast, the body quivered, and the limbs hung limp.
Leon was passing into a hypnotic, sleep, caused by the ingenious
mechanical device coupled with the skilfully prepared surprise which
the mind had received.

The Doctor pressed a button, and the last wheel was extinguished and
stood motionless. Once more the only light was from the little lamp,
which now, by contrast with the recent glare, seemed like a glowworm.
Dr. Medjora came forth and placed himself in front of Leon. With the
palms of his hands on the lad's temples, he rubbed the eyeballs
through the closed lids, with his thumbs. After a short time he spoke.

"Leon! Leon! Are you asleep?"

There was no reply.

"Leon! You are asleep, but you can speak!"

An indistinct murmur escaped from the sleeper.

"Leon! You are asleep! But you are also awake! Open your eyes, but do
not awaken entirely! Open your eyes!"

In response to the command, authoritatively given, Leon's eyes opened
slowly, and he stared before him, as though seeing nothing.

"Look! You can see me if you try! You can recognize me! You can speak!
Speak to me!"

The sleeper gazed at the Doctor a while, but said nothing.

"Do you not hear me? I tell you that you can speak! You must speak!
Speak! I command you! Speak!"

"Doc-tor Med-jo-ra!" was the reply uttered in separate syllables, with
a pause between each, and in hollow tones.

"Good! You see you can speak if you will. You will find it easy enough
directly. Look about you now, and tell me where you are."

"I think I am in the temple!"

"You are correct. You are in the temple of AEsculapius. Do you
understand?"

"The temple of AEsculapius! I understand!"

"Do you know how you came here?"

"No!"

"Do you wish to know?"

"No!"

"I brought you here. Do you understand that?"

"Yes!"

"Are you glad or sorry?"

"Glad!"

"You are asleep! You know that, do you not?"

"I am asleep!"

"Do you wish to awaken?"

"I