The waves of the sea of unconsciousness had begun to meet over his head, when all at once--it was as though a violent shock of electricity had passed over him.

He started so that he leaped up on the springs of the sofa, and leaning on his arms got in a panic onto his knees.

His eyes were wide open as though he had never been asleep.

The heaviness in his head and the weariness in his limbs that he had felt a minute before had suddenly gone.