The idea of a distant voice, like my own, was intimately present to my fancy.

I exerted myself with a most ardent desire, and with something like a persuasion that I should succeed.

I started with surprise, for it seemed as if success had crowned my attempts.

I repeated the effort, but failed.

A certain position of the organs took place on the first attempt, altogether new, unexampled and as it were, by accident, for I could not attain it on the second experiment.
You will not wonder that I exerted myself with indefatigable zeal to regain what had once, though for so short a space, been in my power.
Your own ears have witnessed the success of these efforts.