Part 36 (1/2)
”I do!”
”You must never forget any of it. You must remember it all. Not the words, but the substance. You will remember?”
”I will remember!”
”Now I will take you back to your bed. When you have been there ten minutes, you will awaken!”
”I will awaken!”
”You will remember this place, but only as though you had seen it in a dream!”
”I will remember the dream!”
”Then you will immediately fall into a natural sleep!”
”I will fall into a natural sleep!”
”In the morning you will either remember nothing, or if anything only that you have had a dream!”
”Only a dream!”
”Now sleep! Sleep deeply!”
The Doctor pressed Leon's eyes with his thumbs, and when he released them the lids remained closed.
”You cannot open your eyes!”
”No! I cannot open my eyes!”
”Now you cannot speak!”
There was no reply. Dr. Medjora wrapped the sleeper in the robe and carried him upstairs, and back to his own room again. He placed him in his bed, and covered him carefully, as a mother would her babe.
Stooping over him he placed his lips close to Leon's ear and said:
”Can you hear me? If so, raise your arm,” a feeble elevation of the arm was made in response. ”Good, you hear! Remember! Awaken in ten minutes! Awaken from a dream! Then sleep again!”
The sleeper stirred slightly, and breathed a long sigh. Dr. Medjora leaned over him, and imprinted a kiss upon his forehead. Then he left the apartment, closing the door cautiously behind him, and sought his own room.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE FAITHFUL DOG.
On the following morning, when Leon entered the laboratory, he found Dr. Medjora busily engaged upon a chemical a.n.a.lysis. He, therefore, without interrupting him, went to his own table, and took up his morning's task. Half an hour pa.s.sed in silence, and then the Doctor spoke:
”Good-morning, Leon,” said he. ”I hope that the late hour at which you retired last night did not interfere with your rest?”
”On the contrary, Doctor,” said Leon, ”I slept very soundly; so soundly that I did not awaken as early as usual this morning. Yet I am puzzled by one thing.”
”And that is----?”