He went on: "When I say senseless, mademoiselle, I allude of course to my body.

But I, myself--that is, my soul--was conscious; I lived, I moved, I heard, I saw.

Of that experience I am forbidden to speak.

When I returned to mortal existence I found myself lying on a couch in the same room where I had supped with Heliobas, and Heliobas himself sat near me reading.
It was broad noonday.

A delicious sense of tranquillity and youthful buoyancy was upon me, and without speaking I sprang up from my recumbent position and touched him on the arm.