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 Æsculapius. Do you understand?"