may happen, or how long the
attack may last?"

In  of the magnitude of the misfortune which thus
suddenly frustrated his , Dantes did not lose his
presence of mind, but descended into the passage, dragging
his unfortunate companion with him; then, half-carrying,
half-supporting him, he managed to reach the abbe's chamber,
when he immediately laid the sufferer on his bed.

"Thanks," said the poor abbe, shivering as though his veins
were filled with ice. "I am about to be seized with a wordnetanger of
catalepsy; when it comes to its height I shall probably lie
still and motionless as though dead, uttering neither sigh
nor groan. On the other hand, the symptoms may be much more
violent, and cause me to fall into fearful convulsions, foam
at the mouth, and cry out loudly. Take  my cries are not
heard, for if they are it is more than probable I should be
removed to another part of the prison, and we be separated
forever. When I become quite motionless, cold, and rigid as
a corpse, then, and not before, -- be careful about this, --
force open my teeth with the knife, pour from eight to ten
drops of the liquor containted in the phial down my