Slowly the big black eyes opened. They still had a dazed look, but
already smiled faintly; the same faint smile hovered on his pale lips.
Then he moved the arm that hung down, and laid it on his chest.

'Emilio!' repeated the girl, and she got up. The expression on her
face was so tense and vivid, that it seemed that in an instant either
she would burst into tears or break into laughter.

'Emil! what is it? Emil!' was heard outside, and a neatly-dressed lady
with silvery grey hair and a dark face came with rapid steps into the
room.

A middle-aged man followed her; the head of a maid-servant was visible
over their shoulders.

The girl ran to meet them.

'He is saved, mother, he is alive!' she cried, impulsively embracing
the lady who had just entered.

'But what is it?' she repeated. 'I come back ... and all of a sudden I
meet the doctor and Luise ...'

The girl proceeded to explain what had happened, while the doctor went
up to the invalid who was coming more and more to himself, and was
still smiling: he seemed to be beginning to feel shy at the commotion
he had caused.

'You've been using friction with brushes, I see,' said the doctor to
Sanin and Pantaleone, 'and you did very well.... A very good idea ...