At this information the Glittering Lady lifted her arched eyebrows and smiled a little, while Oro said: 

“I perceive that the new world has advanced but a little way on the road of knowledge.”

Fearing that Bastin was about to commence an argument, I began to ask questions in my turn.

“Lord Oro and Lady Yva,” I said, “we have told you something of ourselves and will tell you more when you desire it.  But pardon us if first we pray you to tell us what we burn to know.  Who are you?  Of what race and country?  And how came it that we found you sleeping yonder?”

“If it be your pleasure, answer, my Father,” said Yva.

Oro thought a moment, then replied in a calm voice: 

“I am a king who once ruled most of the world as it was in my day, though it is true that much of it rebelled against me, my councillors and servants.  Therefore I destroyed the world as it was then, save only certain portions whence life might spread to the new countries that I raised up.  Having done this I put myself and my daughter to sleep for a space of two hundred and fifty thousand years, that there might be time for fresh civilisations to arise.  Now I begin to think that I did not allot a sufficiency of ages, since I perceive from what you tell me, that the learning of the new races is as yet but small.”

Bickley and I looked at each other and were silent.  Mentally we had collapsed.  Who could begin to discuss statements built upon such a foundation of gigantic and paralysing falsehoods?

Well, Bastin could for one.  With no more surprise in his voice than if he were talking about last night’s dinner, he said: 

“There must be a mistake somewhere, or perhaps I misunderstand you.  It is obvious that you, being a man, could not have destroyed the world.  That could only be done by the Power which made it and you.”

I trembled for the results of Bastin’s methods of setting out the truth.  To my astonishment, however, Oro replied: 

“You speak wisely, Priest, but the Power you name may use instruments to accomplish its decrees.  I am such an instrument.”

“Quite so,” said Bastin, “just like anybody else.  You have more knowledge of the truth than I thought.  But pray, how did you destroy the world?”

“Using my wisdom to direct the forces that are at work in the heart of this great globe, I drowned it with a deluge, causing one part to sink and another to rise, also changes of climate which completed the work.”

“That’s quite right,” exclaimed Bastin delightedly.  “We know all about the Deluge, only you are not mentioned in connection with the matter.  A man, Noah, had to do with it when he was six hundred years old.”

“Six hundred?” said Oro.  “That is not very old.  I myself had seen more than a thousand years when I lay down to sleep.”

“A thousand!” remarked Bastin, mildly interested.  “That is unusual, though some of these mighty men of renown we know lived over nine hundred.”