It was more like crackling than anything else; the noise produced by thousands of faint discharges.

No, it was inexplicable, and he wondered more and more.
Gradually he fell asleep.

How long he slept he didn't know, but he awoke with a sensation of cold.

Instinctively he put out his hand to pull the coverings closer over him, and found that they seemed to have slipped down somehow, leaving his chest exposed.

Then, warm again, he dozed off once more and dreamt that he was at the pool of Daphnis with Lubin.