when the sleeper wakes-第4部分

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bed　in　the　hotel　at　the　place　in　the　valleybut　he

could　not　recall　that　white　edge。　He　must　have　slept。

He　remembered　now　that　he　had　wanted　to　sleep。　He

recalled　the　cliff　and　waterfall　again；　and　then　

recollected　something　about　talking　to　a　passer…by。



How　long　had　he　slept？　What　was　that　sound　of

pattering　feet？　And　that　rise　and　fall；　like　the　

murmur　of　breakers　on　pebbles？　He　put　out　a　languid

hand　to　reach　his　watch　from　the　chair　whereon　it

was　his　habit　to　place　it；　and　touched　some　smooth

hard　surface　like　glass。　This　was　so　unexpected　that

it　startled　him　extremely。　Quite　suddenly　he　rolled

over；　stared　for　a　moment；　and　struggled　into　a　sitting

position。　The　effort　was　unexpectedly　difficult；　and

it　left　him　giddy　and　weakand　amazed。



He　rubbed　his　eyes。　The　riddle　of　his　surroundings

was　confusing　but　his　mind　was　quite　clearevidently　

his　sleep　had　benefited　him。　He　was　not　in　a

bed　at　all　as　he　understood　the　word；　but　Iying　naked

on　a　very　soft　and　yielding　mattress；　in　a　trough　of

dark　glass。　The　mattress　was　partly　transparent；　a

fact　he　observed　with　a　strange　sense　of　insecurity；　and

below　it　was　a　mirror　reflecting　him　greyly。　About

his　armand　he　saw　with　a　shock　that　his　skin　was

strangIy　dry　and　yellowwas　bound　a　curious　apparatus　

of　rubber；　bound　so　cunningly　that　it　seemed

to　pass　into　his　skin　above　and　below。　And　this

strange　bed　was　placed　in　a　case　of　greenish　coloured

glass　（as　it　seemed　to　him）；　a　bar　in　the　white　framework　

of　which　had　first　arrested　his　attention。　In

the　corner　of　the　case　was　a　stand　of　glittering　and

delicately　made　apparatus；　for　the　most　part　quite

strange　appliances；　though　a　maximum　and　minimum

thermometer　was　recognisable。



The　slightly　greenish　tint　of　the　glass…like　substance

which　surrounded　him　on　every　hand　obscured　what

lay　behind；　but　he　perceived　it　was　a　vast　apartment

of　splendid　appearance；　and　with　a　very　large　and

simple　white　archway　facing　him。　Close　to　the　walls

of　the　cage　were　articles　of　furniture；　a　table　covered

with　a　silvery　cloth；　silvery　like　the　side　of　a　fish；　a

couple　of　graceful　chairs；　and　on　the　table　a　number

of　dishes　with　substances　piled　on　them；　a　bottle　and

two　glasses。　He　realised　that　he　was　intensely　hungry。



He　could　see　no　human　being；　and　after　a　period

of　hesitation　scrambled　off　the　translucent　mattress

and　tried　to　stand　on　the　clean　white　floor　of　his　little

apartment。　He　had　miscalculated　his　strength；　however；　

and　staggered　and　put　his　hand　against　the　glasslike　

pane　before　him　to　steady　himself。　For　a　moment

it　resisted　his　hand；　bending　outward　like　a　distended

bladder；　then　it　broke　with　a　slight　report　and　vanisheda

pricked　bubble。　He　reeled　out　into　the

general　space　of　the　hall；　greatly　astonished。　He

caught　at　the　table　to　save　himself；　knocking　one　of

the　glasses　to　the　floorit　rang　but　did　not　break

and　sat　down　in　one　of　the　armchairs。



When　he　had　a　little　recovered　he　filled　the　remaining　

glass　from　the　bottle　and　dranka　colourless

liquid　it　was；　but　not　water；　with　a　pleasing　faint

aroma　and　taste　and　a　quality　of　immediate　support

and　stimulus。　He　put　down　the　vessel　and　looked

about　him。



The　apartment　lost　none　of　its　size　and　magnificence

now　that　the　greenish　transparency　that　had　intervened　

was　removed。　The　archway　he　saw　led　to　a

flight　of　steps；　going　downward　without　the

intermediation　of　a　door；　to　a　spacious　transverse　passage。

This　passage　ran　between　polished　pillars　of　some

white…veined　substance　of　deep　ultramarine；　and　along

it　came　the　sound　of　human　movements　and　voices

and　a　deep　undeviating　droning　note。　He　sat；　now

fully　awake；　listening　alertly；　forgetting　the　viands　in

his　attention。



Then　with　a　shock　he　remembered　that　he　was

naked；　and　casting　about　him　for　covering；　saw　a　long

black　robe　thrown　on　one　of　the　chairs　beside　him。

This　he　wrapped　about　him　and　sat　down　again；

trembling。



His　mind　was　still　a　surging　perplexity。　Clearly

he　had　slept。　and　had　been　removed　in　his　sleep。　But

here？　And　who　were　those　people；　the　distant

crowd　beyond　the　deep　blue　pillars？　Boscastle？　He

poured　out　and　partially　drank　another　glass　of　the

colourless　fluid。



What　was　this　place？this　place　that　to　his　senses

seemed　subtly　quivering　like　a　thing　alive？　He　looked

about　him　at　the　clean　and　beautiful　form　of　the　apartment；　

unstained　by　ornament；　and　saw　that　the　roof

was　broken　in　one　place　by　a　circular　shaft　full　of

light；　and；　as　he　looked；　a　steady；　sweeping　shadow

blotted　it　out　and　passed；　and　came　again　and　passed。

〃Beat；　beat；〃　that　sweeping　shadow　had　a　note　of　its

own　in　the　subdued　tumult　that　filled　the　air。



He　would　have　called　out；　but　only　a　little　sound

came　into　his　throat。　Then　he　stood　up；　and；　with

the　uncertain　steps　of　a　drunkard；　made　his　way

towards　the　archway。　He　staggered　down　the　steps；

tripped　on　the　corner　of　the　black　cloak　he　had

wrapped　about　himself；　and　saved　himself　by　catching

at　one　of　the　blue　pillars。



The　passage　ran　down　a　cool　vista　of　blue　and　purple；　

and　ended　remotely　in　a　railed　space　like　a　balcony；　

brightly　lit　and　projecting　into　a　space　of　haze；

a　space　like　the　interior　of　some　gigantic　building。

Beyond　and　remote　were　vast　and　vague　architectural

forms。　The　tumult　of　voices　rose　now　loud　and　clear；

and　on　the　balcony　and　with　their　backs　to　him；　

gesticulating　and　apparently　in　animated　conversation；

were　three　figures；　richly　dressed　in　loose　and　easy

garments　of　bright　soft　colourings。　The　noise　of　a

great　multitude　of　people　poured　up　over　the　balcony；

and　once　it　seemed　the　top　of　a　banner　passed；　and

once　some　brightly　coloured　object；　a　pale　blue　cap

or　garment　thrown　up　into　the　air　perhaps；　flashed

athwart　the　space　and　fell。　The　shouts　sounded　like

English；　there　was　a　reiteration　of　〃Wake！〃　He

heard　some　indistinct　shrill　cry；　and　abruptly　the

three　men　began　laughing。



〃Ha；　ha；　ha！〃　laughed　onea　red…haired　man　in

a　short　purple　robe。　〃When　the　Sleeper　wakes

__When！__



He　turned　his　eyes　full　of　merriment　along　the　passage。　

His　face　changed；　the　whole　man　changed；

became　rigid。　The　other　two　turned　swiftly　at　his

exclamation　and　stood　motionless。　Their　faces

assumed　an　expression　of　consternation；　an　expression

that　deepened　into　awe。



Suddenly　Graham's　knees　bent　beneath　him；　his　arm

against　the　pillar　collapsed　limply；　he　staggered　

forward　and　fell　upon　his　face。



CHAPTER　IV



THE　SOUND　OF　A　TUMULT



Graham's　last　impression　before　he　fainted　was　of

a　clamorous　ringing　of　bells。　He　learnt　afterwards　that

he　was　insensible；　hanging　between　life　and　death；　for

the　better　part　of　an　hour。　When　he　recovered　his

senses；　he　was　back　on　his　translucent　couch；　and

there　was　a　stirring　warmth　at　heart　and　throat。　The

dark　apparatus；　he　perceived；　had　been　removed　from

his　arm；　which　was　bandaged。　The　white　framework

was　still　about　him；　but　the　greenish　transparent　

substance　that　had　filled　it　was　altogether　gone。　A　man

in　a　deep　violet　robe；　one　of　those　who　had　been　on

the　balcony；　was　looking　keenly　into　his　face。



Remote　but　insistent　was　a　clamour　of　bells　and

confused　sounds；　that　suggested　to　his　mind　the　

picture　of　a　great　number　of　people　shouting　together。

Something　seemed　to　fall　across　this　tumult；　a

door　suddenly　closed。



Graham　moved　his　head。　〃What　does　this　all

mean？〃　he　said　slowly。　〃Where　am　I？〃



He　saw　the　red…haired　man　who　had　been　first　to

discover　him。　A　voice　seemed　to　be　asking　what　he

had　said；　and　was　abruptly　stilled。



The　man　in　violet　answered　in　a　soft　voice；　speaking

English　with　a　slightly　foreign　accent；　or　so　at　least

it　seemed　to　the　Sleeper's　ears；　〃You　are　quite　safe。



You　were　brought　hither　from　where　you　fell　asleep。

It　is　quite　safe。　You　have　been　here　some　time

sleeping。　In　a　trance。〃



He　said　something　further　that　Graham　could　not

hear；　and　a　little　phial　was　handed　across　to　him。

Graham　felt　a　cooling　spray；　a　fragrant　mist　played

over　his　forehead　for　a　moment；　and　his　sense　of

refreshment　increased。　He　closed　his　eyes　in　satisfaction。



〃　Better？〃　asked　the　man　in　violet；　as　Graham's

eyes　reopened。　He　was　a　pleasant…faced　man　of

thirty；　perhaps；　with　a　pointed　flaxen　beard；　and　a

clasp　of　gold　at　the　neck　of　his　violet　robe。



〃Yes；〃　said　Graham。



〃You　have　been　asleep　some　time。　In　a　cataleptic

trance。　You　have　heard？　Catalepsy？　It　may　seem

strange　to　you　at　first；　but　I　can　assure　you　everything

is　well。〃



Graham　did　not　answer；　but　these　words　served

their　reassuring　purpose。　His　eyes　went　from　face

to　face　of　the　three　people　about　him。　They　were

regarding　him　strangely。　He　knew　he　ought　to　be

somewhere　in　Cornwall；　but　he　could　not　square　these

things　with　that　impression。



A　matter　that　had　been　in　his　mind　during　his　last

waking　moments　at　Boscastle　recurred；　a　thing　resolved

upon　and　somehow　neglected。　He　cleared　his

throat。



〃Have　you　wired　my　cousin？〃　he　asked。　〃E。

Warming；　27；　Chancery　Lane？　〃



They　were　all　assiduous　to　hear。　But　he　had　to

repeat　it。　〃What　an　odd　__blurr__　in　his　accent！〃　

whispered　the　red…haired　man。　〃Wire；　sir？〃　said　the

young　man　with　the　flaxen　beard；　evidently　puzzled。



〃He　means　send　an　electric　telegram；〃　volunteered

the　third；　a　pleasant…faced　youth　of　nineteen　or　twenty。

The　flaxen…bearded　man　gave　a　cry　of　comprehension。

〃How　stupid　of　me！　You　may　be　sure　everything

shall　be　done；　sir；〃　he　said　to　Graham。　〃I　am　afraid

it　would　be　difficult　towire　to　your　cousin。　He　is

not　in　London　now。　But　don't　trouble　about　arrangements　

yet；　you　have　been　asleep　a　very　long　time　and

the　important　thing　is　to　get　over　that；　sir。〃　（Graham

concluded　the　word　was　sir；　but　this　man　pronounced

it