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strength of their will and knowledge； of the dwindling of their
race and of the final destruction of its enemies； although I
noticed that now he no longer said that this was his work alone。
One night I asked him if he did not miss all such pomp and power。
Then suddenly he broke out； and for the first time I really
learned what ambition can be when it utterly possesses the soul
of man。
〃Are you mad；〃 he asked； 〃that you suppose that I； Oro； the
King of kings； can be content to dwell solitary in a great cave
with none but the shadows of the dead to serve me？ Nay； I must
rule again and be even greater than before； or else I too will
die。 Better to face the future； even if it means oblivion； than
to remain thus a relic of a glorious past； still living and yet
dead； like that statue of the great god Fate which you saw in the
temple of my worship。〃
〃Bastin does not think that the future means oblivion；〃 I
remarked。
〃I know it。 I have studied his faith and find it too humble for
my taste； also too new。 Shall I； Oro； creep a suppliant before
any Power； and confess what Bastin is pleased to call my sins？
Nay； I who am great will be the equal of all greatness； or
nothing。〃
He paused a while； then went on：
〃Bastin speaks of 'eternity。' Where and what then is this
eternity which if it has no end can have had no beginning？ I know
the secret of the suns and their attendant worlds； and they are
no more eternal than the insect which glitters for an hour。 Out
of shapeless； rushing gases they gathered to live their day； and
into gases at last they dissolve again with all they bore。〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered； 〃but they reform into new worlds。〃
〃That have no part with the old。 This world； too； will melt；
departing to whence it came； as your sacred writings say； and
what then of those who dwelt and dwell thereon？ No； Man of
today； give me Time in which I rule and keep your dreams of an
Eternity that is not； and in which you must still crawl and
serve； even if it were。 Yet； if I might； I confess it； I would
live on for ever； but as Master not as Slave。〃
On another night he began to tempt me； very subtly。 〃I see a
spark of greatness in you； Humphrey；〃 he said； 〃and it comes into
my heart that you； too； might learn to rule。 With Yva； the last
of my blood； it is otherwise。 She is the child of my age and of a
race outworn； too gentle； too much all womanly。 The soul that
triumphs must shine like steel in the sun； and cut if need be；
not merely be beauteous and shed perfume like a lily in the
shade。 Yet she is very wise and fair；〃 here he looked at me；
〃perchance of her might come children such as were their
forefathers； who again would wield the sceptre of the dominion of
the earth。〃
I made no answer； wondering what he meant exactly and thinking
it wisest to be silent。
〃You are of the short…lived races；〃 he went on； 〃yet very much
a man； not without intelligence； and by the arts I have I can so
strengthen your frame that it will endure the shocks of time for
three such lives as yours； or perchance for more； and then〃
Again he paused and went on：
〃The Daughter of kings likes you also； perhaps because you
resemble〃 here he fixed me with his piercing eyes； 〃a certain
kinglet of base blood whom once she also liked； but whom it was
my duty to destroy。 Well； I must think。 I must study this world
of yours also and therein you may help me。 Perhaps afterwards I
will tell you how。 Now sleep。〃
In another moment he was gone； but notwithstanding his powerful
command； for a while I could not sleep。 I understood that he was
offering Yva to me； but upon what terms？ That was the question。
With her was to go great dominion over the kingdoms of the earth。
I could not help remembering that always this has been and still
is Satan's favourite bait。 To me it did not particularly appeal。
I had been ambitious in my timewho is not that is worth his
salt？ I could have wished to excel in something； literature or
art； or whatever it might be； and thus to ensure the memory of my
name in the world。
Of course this is a most futile desire； seeing that soon or
late every name must fade out of the world like an unfixed
photograph which is exposed to the sun。 Even if it could endure；
as the old demigod； or demidevil； Oro； had pointed out； very
shortly； by comparison with Time's unmeasured vastness； the whole
solar system will also fade。 So of what use is this feeble love
of fame and this vain attempt to be remembered that animates us
so strongly？ Moreover； the idea of enjoying mere temporal as
opposed to intellectual power； appealed to me not at all。 I am a
student of history and I know what has been the lot of kings and
the evil that； often enough； they work in their little day。
Also if I needed any further example； there was that of Oro
himself。 He had outlived the greatness of his House； as a royal
family is called； and after some gigantic murder； if his own
story was to be believed； indulged in a prolonged sleep。 Now he
awoke to find himself quite alone in the world； save for a
daughter with whom he did not agree or sympathise。 In short； he
was but a kind of animated mummy inspired by one idea which I
felt quite sure would be disappointed； namely； to renew his
former greatness。 To me he seemed as miserable a figure as one
could imagine； brooding and plotting in his illuminated cave； at
the end of an extended but misspent life。
Also I wondered what he； or rather his ego； had been doing
during all those two hundred and fifty thousand years of sleep。
Possibly if Yva's theory； as I understood it； were correct； he
had reincarnated as Attila； or Tamerlane； or Napoleon； or even as
Chaka the terrible Zulu king。 At any rate there he was still in
the world； filled with the dread of death； but consumed now as
ever by his insatiable and most useless finite ambitions。
Yva； also！ Her case was his； but yet how different。 In all this
long night of Time she had but ripened into one of the sweetest
and most gentle women that ever the world bore。 She； too； was
great in her way； it appeared in her every word and gesture； but
where was the ferocity of her father？ Where his desire to reach
to splendour by treading on a blood…stained road paved with
broken human hearts？ It did not exist。 Her nature was different
although her body came of a long line of these power…loving
kings。 Why this profound difference of the spirit？ Like
everything else it was a mystery。 The two were as far apart as
the Poles。 Everyone must have hated Oro； from the beginning；
however much he feared him； but everyone who came in touch with
her must have loved Yva。
Here I may break into my personal narrative to say that this；
by their own confession； proved to be true of two such various
persons as Bastin and Bickley。
〃The truth； which I am sure it would be wrong to hide from you；
Arbuthnot；〃 said the former to me o