'Rested?--Oh, yes, I'm rested.--Rested!'
Mr. FitzHoward motioned to the spectators.
'All these ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Babbacombe, are here to see you put the crown and summit on the most marvellous feat of modern times. They're here to see you wake, sir.'
'Wake?--To see me wake?'
A voice cried out from the crowd:--
'Have you been troubled by any bad dreams, sir?'
There was a tendency to titter; which was subdued when it was seen how the inquiry was taken.
'Dreams!--My dear life!--Dreams!'
There was something in the awakened sleeper's tone which was not altogether agreeable. It was too suggestive of things on which one did not care to dwell. He addressed FitzHoward.
'Give me something to eat. I want something to eat.'