a thousand years, whereas
we know well that he cannot live more than about a hundred."

"You don't know anything of the sort, Bickley. All you know is that
over the brief period of history with which we are acquainted, say ten
thousand years at most, men have only lived to about a hundred. But the
very rocks which you are so fond of talking about, tell us that even
this planet is millions upon millions of years of age. Who knows then
but that at some time in its history, men did not live for a thousand
years, and that lost civilisations did not exist of which this Oro and
his daughter may be two survivors?"

"There is no proof of anything of the sort," said Bickley.

"I don't know about proof, as you understand it, though I have read in
Plato of a continent called Atlantis that was submerged, according to
the story of old Egyptian priests. But personally I have every proof,
for it is all written down in the Bible at which you turn tip your nose,
and I am very glad that I have been lucky enough to come across this
unexpected confirmation of the story. Not that it matters much, since I
should have learned all about it when it pleases Providence to remove me
to a better world, which in our circumstances may happen any day. Now I
must change my clothes before I see to the cooking and other things."

"I am bound to admit," said Bickley, looking after him, "that old Bastin
is not so stupid as he seems. From his point of view the arguments he
advances are quite logical. Moreover I think he is right when he says
that we look at things through the wrong end of the telescope. After all
the universe is very big and who knows what may happen there? Who knows
even what may have happened on this little earth during the aeons of its
existence, whenever its balance chanced to shift, as the Ice Ages show
us it has often done? Still I believe that old Oro to be a Prince of
Liars."

"That remains to be proved," I answered cautiously. "All I know is that
he is a wonderfully learned person of most remarkable appearance, and
that his daughter is the loveliest creature I ever saw."

"There I agree," said Bickley decidedly, "and as brilliant as she is
lovely. If she belongs to a past civilisation, it is a pity that it ever
became extinct. Now let's go and have a nap. Bastin will call us when
supper is ready."

Chapter XIV. The Under-world

That night we slept well and without fear, being quite certain that
after their previous