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。
