“Even cause the Deluge,” jeered Bickley.

“I don’t know about the Deluge, but perhaps he may have been permitted to cause a deluge.  Why not?  You can’t look at things from far enough off, Bickley.  And if something seems big to you, you conclude that therefore it is impossible.  The same Power which gives you skill to succeed in an operation, that hitherto was held impracticable, as I know you have done once or twice, may have given that old fellow power to cause a deluge.  You should measure the universe and its possibilities by worlds and not by acres, Bickley.”

“And believe, I suppose, that a man can live 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.”