Thisattitudehurtme，perhapsbecauseinmanyrespectsthesituationwasawkward。Theyhad，itistrue，takentheirfailuresextremelywell，stillthefactremainedthatbothofthemhadfalleninlovewiththewonderfulcreature，womanandyetmorethanwoman，whohadboundherselftome。Howthencouldwegoonlivingtogether，Iinprospectivepossessionoftheobjectthatallhaddesired，andtheywithoutthepale？
　　Moreover，theywerejealousinanotherandquiteadifferentfashionbecausetheybothlovedmeintheirownwaysandwereconvincedthatIwhohadhithertolovedthem，henceforwardshouldhavenoaffectionlefttospare，sincesurelythisGlitteringLady，thismarvelofwisdomandphysicalperfectionswouldtakeitall。Ofcoursetheywereinerror，sinceevenifIcouldhavebeensobaseandselfish，thiswasnoconductthatYvawouldhavewishedorevensuffered。Stillthatwastheirthought。
　　MasteringthesituationIreflectedalittlewhileandthenspokestraightouttothem。
　　"Myfriends，"Isaid，"asIseethatyouhaveguessed，YvaandIareaffiancedtoeachotherandloveeachotherperfectly。"
　　"Yes，Arbuthnot，"saidBastin，"wesawthatinyourface，andinhersasshebadeusgoodnightbeforeshewentintothecave，andwecongratulateyouandwishyoueveryhappiness。"
　　"Wewishyoueveryhappiness，oldfellow，"chimedinBickley。
　　Hepausedawhile，thenadded，"Buttobehonest，IamnotsurethatIcongratulateyou。"
　　"Whynot，Bickley？"
　　"Notforthereasonthatyoumaysuspect，Arbuthnot，Imeannotbecauseyouhavewonwherewehavelost，asitwasonlytobeexpectedthatyouwoulddo，butonaccountofsomethingtotallydifferent。Itoldyouawhileagoandrepetitionisuselessandpainful。IneedonlyaddthereforethatsincethenmyconvictionhasstrengthenedandIamsure，sorryasIamtosayit，thatinthismatteryoumustpreparefordisappointmentandcalamity。
　　Thatwoman，ifwomanshereallyis，willneverbethewifeofmortalman。Nowbeangrywithmeifyoulike，orlaughasyouhavetherighttodo，seeingthatlikeBastinandyourself，I
　　alsoaskedhertomarryme，butsomethingmakesmespeakwhatI
　　believetobethetruth。"
　　"LikeCassandra，"Isuggested。
　　"Yes，likeCassandrawhowasnotapopularperson。"AtfirstI
　　wasinclinedtoresentBickley’swords——whowouldnothavebeeninthecircumstances？Thenofasuddenthererushedinuponmymindtheconvictionthathespokethetruth。InthisworldYvawasnotformeoranyman。Moreoversheknewit，theknowledgepeepedoutofeverywordshespokeinourpassionatelovescenebythelake。Shewasaware，andsubconsciouslyIwasaware，thatwewereplightingourtroth，notfortimebutforeternity。Withtimewehadlittlelefttodo；notforlongwouldsheweartheringIgaveheronthatholynight。
　　EvenBastin，whoseperceptionsnormallywerenotacute，feltthatthesituationwasstrainedandawkwardandbrokeinwithacuriousairofforcedsatisfaction：
　　"It’suncommonlyluckyforyou，oldboy，thatyouhappentohaveaclergymaninyourparty，asIshallbeabletomarryyouinarespectablefashion。OfcourseIcan’tsaythattheGlitteringLadyisasyetabsolutelyconvertedtoourfaith，butIamcertainthatshehasabsorbedenoughofitsprinciplestojustifymeinunitingherinChristianwedlock。"
　　"Yes，"Ianswered，"shehasabsorbeditsprinciples；
　　shetoldmeasmuchherself。Sacrifice，forinstance，"
　　andasIspokethewordmyeyesfilledwithtears。
　　"Sacrifice！"brokeinBickleywithanangrysnort，forheneededaventtohismentaldisturbance。"Rubbish。Whyshouldeveryreligiondemandsacrificeassavagesdo？Byitalonetheystandcondemned。"
　　"BecauseasIthink，sacrificeisthelawoflife，atleastofalllifethatisworththeliving，"Iansweredsadlyenough。
　　"AnyhowIbelieveyouareright，Bickley，andthatBastinwillnotbetroubledtomarryus。"
　　"Youdon’tmean，"brokeinBastinwithahorrifiedair，"thatyouproposetodispense——"
　　"No，Bastin，Idon’tmeanthat。WhatImeanisthatitcomesuponmethatsomethingwillpreventthismarriage。Sacrifice，perhaps，thoughinwhatshapeIdonotknow。Andnowgoodnight。
　　Iamtired。"
　　ThatnightinthechilldeadhourbeforethedawnOrocameagain。Iwokeuptoseehimseatedbymybed，majestic，and，asitseemedtome，lambent，thoughthismayhavebeenmyimagination。
　　"Youtakestrangelibertieswithmydaughter，Barbarian，orshetakesstrangelibertieswithyou，itdoesnotmatterwhich，"hesaid，regardingmewithhiscalmandterribleeyes。
　　"WhydoyoupresumetocallmeBarbarian？"Iasked，avoidingthemainissue。
　　"Forthisreason，Humphrey。Allmenarethesame。Theyhavethesameorgans，thesameinstincts，thesamedesires，whichinessencearebuttwo，foodandrebirththatNaturecommands；
　　thoughitistruethatmillionsofyearsbeforeIwasborn，asI
　　havelearnedfromtherecordsoftheSonsofWisdom，itwassaidthattheywerehalfape。Yetbeingthesamethereisbetweenthemawholeseaofdifference，sincesomehaveknowledgeandothersnone，orlittle。Thosewhohavenoneorlittle，amongwhomyoumustbenumbered，areBarbarians。Thosewhohavemuch，amongwhommydaughterandIarethesolesurvivors，aretheInstructed。"
　　"Therearenearlytwothousandmillionsoflivingpeopleinthisworld，"Isaid，"andyounameallofthemBarbarians？"
　　"All，Humphrey，excepting，ofcourse，myselfandmydaughterwhoarenotknowntobealive。Youthinkthatyouhavelearnedmuch，whereasintruthyouaremostignorant。Thecommonestoftheouternations，whenIdestroyedthem，knewmorethanyourwisestknowtoday。"
　　"Youaremistaken，Oro；sincethenwehavelearnedsomethingofthesoul。"
　　"Ah！"heexclaimed，"thatinterestsmeandperhapsitistrue。
　　Also，iftrueitisveryimportant，asIhavetoldyoubefore——orwasitBastin？Ifamanhasasoul，helives，whereasevenweSonsofWisdomdie，andinDeathwhatistheuseofWisdom？
　　Becauseyoucanbelieve，youhavesoulsandaretherefore，perhaps，heirstolife，foolishandignorantasyouaretoday。
　　ThereforeIadmityouandBastintobemyequals，thoughBickley，wholikemyselfbelievesnothing，isbutacommonchemistanddoctorofdisease。"
　　"ThenyoubowtoFaith，Oro？"
　　"Yes，andIthinkthatmygodFatealsobowstoFaith。Perhaps，indeed，FaithshapesFate，notFate。Faith。ButwhencecomesthatfaithwhichevenIwithallmylearningcannotcommand？WhyisitdeniedtomeandgiventoyouandBastin？"
　　"BecauseasBastinwouldtellyou，itisagift，thoughonethatisnevergrantedtotheproudandself—sufficient。Becomehumbleasachild，Oro，andperchanceyoutoomayacquirefaith。"
　　"AndhowshallIbecomehumble？"
　　"Byputtingawayalldreamsofpoweranditsexercise，ifsuchyouhave，andinrepentancewalkingquietlytotheGatesofDeath，"Ireplied。
　　"Foryou，Humphrey，whohavelittleornoneofthesethings，thatmaybeeasy。Butformewhohavemuch，ifnotall，itisotherwise。Youaskmetoabandonthecertainfortheuncertain，theknownfortheunknown，andfromahalf—godcommuningwiththestars，tobecomeanearthwormcrawlinginmudandliftingblindeyestowardsthedarknessofeverlastingnight。"
　　"Agodwhomustdieisnogod，halforwhole，Oro；theearthwormthatlivesonisgreaterthanhe。"
　　"Mayhap。YetwhileIendureIwillbeasagod，sothatwhennightcomes，ifcomeitmust，Ishallhaveplayedmypartandleftmymarkuponthislittleworldofours。Havedone！"headdedwithaburstofimpatience。"Whatwillyouofmydaughter？"
　　"Whatmanhasalwayswilledofwoman——herself，bodyandsoul。"
　　"Hersoulperchanceisyours，ifshehasone，butherbodyisminetogiveorwithhold。Yetitcanbeboughtataprice，"headdedslowly。
　　"Soshetoldme，Oro。"
　　"Icanguesswhatshetoldyou。DidInotwatchyouyonderbythelakewhenyougaveheraringgravedwiththesignsofLifeandEverlastingness？Thequestionis，willyoupaytheprice？"
　　"Notso；thequestionis——whatistheprice？"
　　"This；toentermyserviceandhenceforthdomywill——withoutdebateorcavil。"
　　"Forwhatreward，Oro？"
　　"Yvaandthedominionoftheearthwhileyoushalllive，neithermorenorless。"
　　"Andwhatisyourwill？"
　　"Thatyoushalllearninduecourse。OnthesecondnightfromthisIcommandthethreeofyoutowaituponmeatsundownintheburiedhallsofNyo。TillthenyouseenomoreofYva，forIdonottrusther。She，too，haspowers，thoughasyetshedoesnotusethem，andperchanceshewouldforgetheroaths，andfollowingsomenewstaroflove，foralittlewhilevanishwithyououtofmyreach。Beinthesepulchreatthehourofsundownontheseconddayfromthis，allthreeofyou，ifyouwouldcontinuetoliveupontheearth。AfterwardsyoushalllearnmywillandmakeyourchoicebetweenYvawithmajestyandherlosswithdeath。"
　　Thensuddenlyhewasgone。
　　NextmorningItoldtheotherswhathadpassed，andwetalkedthematterover。Thetroublewas，ofcourse，thatBickleydidnotbelieveme。HehadnofaithinmyallegedinterviewswithOro，whichhesetdowntodelusionsofasemi—mesmericcharacter。Thiswasnotstrange，sinceitappearedthatonthepreviousnighthehadwatchedthedoorofmysleeping—placeuntildawnbroke，whichitdidlongafterOrohaddeparted，andhehadnotseenhimeithercomeorgo，althoughthemoonwasshiningbrightly。
　　WhenhetoldmethisIcouldonlyanswerthatallthesamehehadbeenthereas，ifhecouldspeak，Tommywouldhavebeenabletocertify。Asitchancedthedogwassleepingwithmeandatthefirstsoundoftheapproachofsomeone，wokeupandgrowled。ThenrecognisingOro，hewenttohim，waggedhistailandcurledhimselfupathisfeet。
　　Bastinbelievedmystoryreadilyenough，sayingthatOrowasapeculiarpersonwhonodoubthadwaysofcomingandgoingwhichwedidnotunderstand。Hispointwas，however，thathedidnotintheleastwishtovisitNyoanymore。Thewondersofitsundergroundpalacesandtempleshadnocharmsforhim。Alsohedidnotthinkhecoulddoanygoodbygoing，sinceafter"suckinghimasdryasanorange"withreferencetoreligiousmatters"thatoldvampire—batOrohadjustthrownhimawayliketherind，"and，hemightadd，"seemednobetterforthejuicehehadabsorbed。"
　　"Idoubt，"continuedBastin，"whetherSt。PaulhimselfcouldhaveconvertedOro，evenifheperformedmiraclesbeforehim。
　　Whatistheuseofshowingmiraclestoamanwhocouldalwaysworkabiggeronehimself？"
　　Inshort，Bastin’soneidea，andBickley’salsoforthematterofthat，wastogetawaytothemainislandandthenceescapebymeansoftheboat，orinsomeotherfashion。
　　IpointedoutthatOrohadsaidwemustobeyattheperilofourlives；indeedthathehadputitevenmorestrongly，usingwordstotheeffectthatifwedidnothewouldkillus。
　　"I’dtaketherisk，"saidBickley，"sinceIbelievethatyoudreamtitall，Arbuthnot。However，puttingthataside，thereisanaturalreasonwhyyoushouldwishtogo，andformyownpart，sodoIinaway。Iwanttoseewhatthatoldfellowhasuphisextremelylongsleeve，ifthereisanythingthereatall。"
　　"Well，ifyouaskme，Bickley，"Ianswered，"Ibelieveitisthedestructionofhalftheearth，orsomelittlematterofthatsort。"
　　AtthissuggestionBickleyonlysnorted，butBastinsaidcheerfully：
　　"Idaresay。Heisbadenoughevenforthat。ButasIamquiteconvincedthatitwillneverbeallowed，hisintentionsdonottroubleme。"
　　Iremarkedthatheseemedtohavecarriedthemoutoncebefore。
　　"Oh！youmeantheDeluge。Well，nodoubttherewasadeluge，butIamsurethatOrohadnomoretodowithitthanyouorI，asIthinkIhavesaidalready。Anyhowitisimpossibletoleaveyoutodescendintothatholealone。Isuggest，therefore，thatweshouldgointothesepulchreatthetimewhichyoubelieveOroappointed，andseewhathappens。Ifyouarenotmistaken，theGlitteringLadywillcometheretofetchus，sinceitisquitecertainthatwecannotworktheliftorwhateveritis，alone。Ifyouaremistakenwecanjustgobacktobedasusual。"
　　"Yes，that’sthebestplan，"saidBickley，shortly，afterwhichtheconversationcametoanend。
　　AllthatdayandthenextIwatchedandwaitedinvainforthecomingofYva，butnoYvaappeared。Ievenwentasfarasthesepulchre，butitwasasemptyaswerethetwocrystalcoffins，andafterwaitingawhileIreturned。AlthoughIdidnotsaysotoBickley，tomeitwasevidentthatOro，ashehadsaid，wasdeterminedtocutoffallcommunicationbetweenus。
　　Theseconddaydrewtoitsclose。Oursimplepreparationswerecomplete。Theyconsistedmainlyinmakingreadyourhurricanelampsandpackingupalittlefood，enoughtokeepusforthreeorfourdaysifnecessary，togetherwithsomematchesandagoodsupplyofoil，since，asBastinputit，hewasdeterminednottobecaughtlikethefoolishvirginsintheparable。
　　"Yousee，"headded，"oneneverknowswhenitmightpleasethatoldwretchtoturnofftheincandescentgasorelectriclight，orwhateveritisheusestoilluminehisfamilycatacombs，andthenitwouldbeawkwardifwehadnooil。"
　　"Forthematterofthathemightstealourlamps，"
　　suggestedBickley，"inwhichcaseweshouldbewhereMoseswaswhenthelightwentout。"
　　"Ihaveconsideredthatpossibility，"answeredBastin，"andtherefore，althoughitisadangerousweapontocarryloaded，I
　　amdeterminedtotakemyrevolver。IfnecessaryIshallconsidermyselfquitejustifiedinshootinghimtosaveourlivesandthoseofthousandsofothers。"
　　Atthiswebothlaughed；somehowtheideaofBastintryingtoshootOrostruckusasintenselyludicrous。Yetthatverythingwastohappen。
　　Itwasapeculiarlybeautifulsunsetoverthesouthernseas。Tothewestthegreatflamingorbsankintotheocean，totheeastappearedthesilvercircleofthefullmoon。Tomyexcitedfancytheywerelikescaleshangingfromthehandofamaterialisedspiritofcalm。Overthevolcanoandthelake，overtheislandwithitspalmtrees，overtheseasbeyond，thiscalmbrooded。
　　Saveforafewtravellingbirdstheskywasempty；noclouddisturbeditspeace；theworldseemedsteepedininnocenceandquiet。
　　Allthesethingsstruckme，asIthinktheydidtheothers，becausebytheactionofsomesimultaneousthoughtitcametoourmindsthatveryprobablywewere，lookingonthemforthelasttime。ItisallverywelltotalkoftheUnknownandtheInfinitewhereofweareassuredwearetheheirs，butthatdoesnotmakeitanyeasierforustopartwiththeKnownandtheFinite。ThecontemplationofthewondersofEternitydoesnotconcealtheadvantagesofactualandexistentTime。Inshortthereisnooneofus，fromasaintedarchbishopdowntoasinfulsuicide，whodoesnotregretthenecessityoffarewelltothepleasantlightandthekindlyraceofmenwherewithweareacquainted。
　　Forafterall，whocanbequitecertainoftheBeyond？Itmaybesplendid，butitwillprobablybestrange，andfromstrangeness，afteracertainage，weshrink。Weknowthatallthingswillbedifferentthere；thatourhumanrelationshipswillbeutterlychanged，thatperhapssexwhichshapessomanyofthem，willvanishtobereplacedbysomethingunknown，thatambitionswilllosetheirholdofus，andthat，atthebest，themerelossofhopesandfearswillleaveusempty。Soatleastwethink，whoseeknotvariationbutcontinuance，sincethespiritmustdifferfromthebodyandthatthoughtalarmsourintelligence。
　　Atleastsomeofusthinkso；others，likeBickley，writedownthefutureasablackandendlessnight，whichafterallhasitsconsolationssince，ashasbeenwiselysuggested，perhapsoblivionisbetterthananymemories。Othersagain，likeBastin，wouldsayofitwiththeFrenchman，pluscachange，plusc’estlamemechose。Yetothers，likeOro，consideritasarealmofpossibilities，probablyunpleasantandperhapsnon—existent；justthisandnothingmore。Onlyonethingiscertain，thatnocreaturewhichhaslifedesirestoleapintothefireandfromthedrossofdoubts，toresolvethegold——orthelead——ofcertainty。
　　"Itistimetobegoing，"saidBastin。"Intheseskiesthesunseemstotumbledown，nottosetdecentlyasitdoesinEngland，andifwewaitanylongerweshallbelateforourappointmentinthesepulchre。IamsorrybecausealthoughIdon’toftennoticescenery，everythinglooksratherbeautifulthisevening。Thatstar，forinstance，IthinkitiscalledVenus。"
　　"AndthereforeonethatArbuthnotshouldadmire，"brokeinBickley，attemptingtolightenmatterswithajoke。"Butcomeonandletusberidofthisfool’serrand。Certainlytheworldisalovelyplaceafterall，andformypartIhopethatwehaven’tseenthelastofit，"headdedwithasigh。
　　"SodoI，"saidBastin，"thoughofcourse，Faithteachesusthattherearemuchbetteronesbeyond。Itisnousebotheringaboutwhattheyarelike，butIhopethattheroadtothemdoesn’trunthroughtheholethattheoldreprobate，Oro，callsNyo。"
　　Afewminuteslaterwestarted，eachofuscarryinghisshareoftheimpedimenta。IthinkthatTommywastheonlyreallycheerfulmemberoftheparty，forheskippedaboutandbarked，runningbackwardsandforwardsintothemouthofthecave，asthoughtohurryourmovements。
　　"Really，"saidBastin，"itisquiteunholytoseeananimalgoingoninthatwaywhenitknowsthatitisabouttodescendintothebowelsoftheearth。Isupposeitmustlikethem。"
　　"Oh！no，"commentedBickley，"itonlylikeswhatisinthem——
　　likeArbuthnot。SincethatlittlebeastcameincontactwiththeLadyYva，ithasneverbeenhappyoutofhercompany。"
　　"Ithinkthatisso，"saidBastin。"AtanyrateIhavenoticedthatithasbeenmopingforthelasttwodays，asitalwaysdoeswhensheisnotpresent。ItevenseemstolikeOrowhogivesmethecreeps，perhapsbecauseheisherfather。Dogsmustbeverycharitableanimals。"
　　Bynowwewereinthecavemarchingpastthewrecksofthehalf—buriedflying—machines，whichBickley，asheremarkedregretfully，hadneverfoundtimethoroughlytoexamine。Indeed，todosowouldhaveneededmorediggingthanwecoulddowithoutproperinstruments，sincethemachineswerebiganddeeplyentombedindust。
　　Wecametothesepulchreandentered。
　　"Well，"saidBickley，seatinghimselfontheedgeofoneofthecoffinsandholdinguphislamptolookabouthim，"thisplaceseemsfairlyempty。Nooneiskeepingtheassignation，Arbuthnot，althoughthesuniswelldown。"
　　AshespokethewordsYvastoodbeforeus。Whenceshecamewedidnotsee，forallourbackswereturnedatthemomentofherarrival。Butthereshewas，calm，beautiful，radiatinglight。
　　ChapterXXIII
　　IntheTempleofFateYvaglancedatme，andinhereyesIreadtendernessandsolicitude，alsosomethingofinquiry。ItseemedtomeasthoughshewerewonderingwhatIshoulddoundercircumstancesthatmight，orwould，arise，andinsomesecretfashionofwhichIwasbuthalfconscious，drawingananswerfrommysoul。Thensheturned，and，smilinginherdazzlingway，said：
　　"So，Bickley，asusual，youdidnotbelieve？Becauseyoudidnotseehim，thereforetheLordOro，myfather，neverspokewithHumphrey。AsthoughtheLordOrocouldnotpassyouwithoutyourknowledge，or，perchance，sendthoughtsclothedinhisownshapetoworkhiserrand。"
　　"HowdoyouknowthatIdidnotbelieveArbuthnot’sstory？"
　　Bickleyaskedinarathercrossvoiceandavoidingthedirectissue。"Doyoualsosendthoughtstoworkyourerrandsclothedinyourownshape，LadyYva？"
　　"Alas！notso，thoughperhapsIcouldifImight。Itisverysimple，Bickley。Standinghere，IheardyousaythatalthoughthesunwaswelldowntherewasnoonetomeetyouasHumphreyhadexpected，andfromthosewordsandyourvoiceIguessedtherest。"
　　"YourknowledgeoftheEnglishlanguageisimprovingfast，LadyYva。Also，whenIspoke，youwerenothere。"
　　"AtleastIwasverynear，Bickley，andthesewallsarethinnerthanyouthink，"sheanswered，contemplatingwhatseemedtobesolidrockwitheyesthatwerefullofinnocence。"Oh！friend，"
　　shewentonsuddenly，"Iwonderwhatthereiswhichwillcauseyoutobelievethatyoudonotknowall；thatthereexistmanythingsbeyondthereachofyourlearningandimagination？Well，inadayortwo，perhaps，evenyouwilladmitasmuch，andconfessittome——elsewhere，"andshesighed。
　　"IamreadytoconfessnowthatmuchhappenswhichIdonotunderstandatpresent，becauseIhavenotthekeytothetrick，"
　　hereplied。
　　Yvashookherheadathimandsmiledagain。Thenshemotionedtoallofustostandclosetoher，and，stooping，liftedTommyinherarms。NextmomentthatmarvelhappenedwhichIhavedescribedalready，andwewerewhirlingdownwardsthroughspace，tofindourselvesinaverylittletimestandingsafeinthecavesofNyo，breathlesswiththeswiftnessofourdescent。HowandonwhatwedescendedneitherInortheotherseverlearned。
　　Itwasandmustremainoneoftheunexplainedmysteriesofourgreatexperience。
　　"Whithernow，Yva？"Iasked，staringaboutmeattheradiantvastness。
　　"TheLordOrowouldspeakwithyou，Humphrey。Follow。AndI
　　prayyoualldonotmakehimwrath，forhismoodisnotgentle。"
　　Sooncemoreweproceededdowntheemptystreetsofthatundergroundabodewhich，exceptthatitwasbetterilluminated，remindedmeoftheGreekconceptionofHades。WecametothesacredfountainoverwhichstoodtheguardianstatueofLife，pouringfromthecupssheheldthewatersofGoodandIllthatmingledintoonehealth—givingwine。
　　"Drink，allofyou，"shesaid；"forIthinkbeforethesunsetsagainupontheearthweshallneedstrength，everyoneofus。"
　　Sowedrank，andshedrankherself，andoncemorefeltthebloodgodancingthroughourveinsasthoughthedraughthadbeensomenectarofthegods。Then，havingextinguishedthelanternswhichwestillcarried，forheretheywereneedless，andwewishedtosaveouroil，wefollowedherthroughthegreatdoorsintothevasthallofaudienceandadvancedupitbetweentheendless，emptyseats。Atitshead，onthedaisbeneaththearchingshell，satOroonhisthrone。Asbefore，heworethejewelledcapandthegorgeous，flowingrobes，whilethetableinfrontofhimwasstillstrewnwithsheetsofmetalonwhichhewrotewithapen，orstylus，thatglitteredlikeadiamondorhisownfierceeyes。Thenheliftedhisheadandbeckonedtoustoascendthedais。
　　"Youarehere。Itiswell，"hesaid，whichwasallhisgreeting。OnlywhenTommyranuptohimhebentdownandpattedthedog’sheadwithhislong，thinhand，and，ashedidso，hisfacesoftened。ItwasevidenttomethatTommywasmorewelcometohimthanweretherestofus。
　　Therewasalongsilencewhile，onebyone，hesearcheduswithhispiercingglance。Itrestedonme，thelastofthethreeofus，andfrommetravelledtoYva。
　　"IwonderwhyIhavesentforyou？"hesaidatlength，withamirthlesslaugh。"IthinkitmustbethatImayconvinceBickley，thesceptic，thattherearepowerswhichhedoesnotunderstand，butthatIhavethestrengthtomove。Also，perhaps，thatyourlivesmaybesparedformyownpurposesinthatwhichisabouttohappen。Hearken！Mylaboursarefinished；mycalculationsarecomplete，"andhepointedtothesheetsofmetalbeforehimthatwerecoveredwithcabalisticsigns。"TomorrowIamabouttodowhatoncebeforeIdidandtoplungehalftheworldinthedeepsofoceanandliftagainfromthedepthsthatwhichhasbeenburiedforaquarterofamillionyears。"
　　"Whichhalf？"askedBickley。
　　"Thatismysecret，Physician，andtheanswertoitlieswrittenhereinsignsyoucannotread。Certaincountrieswillvanish，otherswillbespared。Isaythatitismysecret。"
　　"Then，Oro，ifyoucoulddowhatyouthreaten，youwoulddrownhundredsofmillionsofpeople。"
　　"IfIcoulddo！IfIcoulddo！"heexclaimed，glaringatBickley。"Well，tomorrowyoushallseewhatIcando。Oh！whydoIgrowangrywiththisfool？Fortherest，yes，theymustdrown。
　　Whatdoesitmatter？Theirendwillbeswift；somefewminutesofterror，thatisall，andinoneshortcenturyeveryoneofthemwouldhavebeendead。"
　　AnexpressionofhorrorgatheredonBastin’sface。
　　"Doyoureallymeantomurderhundredsofmillionsofpeople？"
　　heasked，inathick，slowvoice。
　　"IhavesaidthatIintendtosendthemtothatheavenorthathellofwhichyouaresofondoftalking，Preacher，somewhatmorequicklythanotherwisetheywouldhavefoundtheirwaythither。
　　Theyhavedisappointedme，theyhavefailed；therefore，letthemgoandmakeroomforotherswhowillsucceed。"
　　"Thenyouareagreaterassassinthananythattheworldhasbred，orthanallofthemputtogether。Thereisnobodyasbad，evenintheBookofRevelation！"shoutedBastin，inakindoffury。"Moreover，IamnotlikeBickley。Iknowenoughofyouandyourhellishpowerstobelievethatwhatyouplan，thatyoucando。"
　　"Ibelieveitalso，"sneeredOro。"ButhowcomesitthattheGreatOnewhomyouworshipdoesnotpreventthedeed，ifHeexists，anditbeevil？"
　　"Hewillpreventit！"ravedBastin。"EvennowHecommandsmetopreventit，andIobey！"Then，drawingtherevolverfromhispocket，hepointeditatOro’sbreast，adding："Swearnottocommitthiscrime，orIwillkillyou！"
　　"Sothemanofpeacewouldbecomeamanofblood，"musedOro，"andkillthatImaynotkillforthegoodoftheworld？Why，whatisthematterwiththattoyofyours，Preacher？"andhepointedtothepistol。
　　Wellmightheask，forashespoketherevolverflewoutofBastin’shand。Highintotheairitflew，andasitwentdischargeditself，allthesixchambersofit，inrapidsuccession，whileBastinstoodstaringathisarmandhandwhichheseemedunabletowithdraw。