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calls。 Indeed； when I mentioned them on one or two occasions；
they stared at me and said it was strange that he should have
come and gone as they saw nothing of him。
On my speaking again of the matter； Bickley at once turned the
conversation； from which I gathered that he believed me to be
suffering from delusions consequent on my illness； or perhaps to
have taken to dreaming。 This was not wonderful since； as I
learned afterwards； Bickley； after he was sure that I was asleep；
made a practice of tying a thread across my doorway and of
ascertaining at the dawn that it remained unbroken。 But Oro was
not to be caught in that way。 I suppose； as it was impossible for
him to pass through the latticework of the open side of the
house； that he undid the thread and fastened it again when he
left； at least； that was Bastin's explanation； or； rather； one of
them。 Another was that he crawled beneath it； but this I could
not believe。 I am quite certain that during all his prolonged
existence Oro never crawled。
At any rate； he came； or seemed to come； and pumped meI can
use no other wordmost energetically as to existing conditions
in the world； especially those of the civilised countries； their
methods of government； their social state； the physical
characteristics of the various races； their religions； the exact
degrees of civilisation that they had developed； their
attainments in art； science and literature； their martial
capacities； their laws； and I know not what besides。
I told him all I could； but did not in the least seem to
satisfy his perennial thirst for information。
〃I should prefer to judge for myself；〃 he said at last。 〃Why
are you so anxious to learn about all these nations； Oro？〃 I
asked； exhausted。
〃Because the knowledge I gather may affect my plans for the
future；〃 he replied darkly。
〃I am told； Oro； that your people acquired the power of
transporting themselves from place to place。〃
〃It is true that the lords of the Sons of Wisdom had such
power； and that I have it still； O Humphrey。〃
〃Then why do you not go to look with your own eyes？〃 I
suggested。
〃Because I should need a guide； one who could explain much in a
short time；〃 he said； contemplating me with his burning glance
until I began to feel uncomfortable。
To change the subject I asked him whether he had any further
information about the war； which he had told me was raging in
Europe。
He answered： 〃Not much； only that it was going on with varying
success； and would continue to do so until the nations involved
therein were exhausted；〃 or so he believed。 The war did not seem
greatly to interest Oro。 It was； he remarked； but a small affair
compared to those which he had known in the old days。 Then he
departed； and I went to sleep。
Next night he appeared again； and； after talking a little on
different subjects； remarked quietly that he had been thinking
over what I had said as to his visiting the modern world； and
intended to act upon the suggestion。
〃When？〃 I asked。
〃Now；〃 he said。 〃I am going to visit this England of yours and
the town you call London； and you will accompany me。〃
〃It is not possible！〃 I exclaimed。 〃We have no ship。〃
〃We can travel without a ship；〃 said Oro。
I grew alarmed； and suggested that Bastin or Bickley would be a
much better companion than I should in my resent weak state。
〃An empty…headed man； or one who always doubts and argues；
would be useless；〃 he replied sharply。 〃You shall come and you
only。〃
I expostulated； I tried to get up and flywhich； indeed； I did
do； in another sense。
But Oro fixed his eyes upon me and slowly waved his thin hand
to and fro above my head。
My senses reeled。 Then came a great darkness。
They returned again。 Now I was standing in an icy； reeking fog；
which I knew could belong to one place onlyLondon； in December；
and at my side was Oro。
〃Is this the climate of your wonderful city？〃 he asked； or
seemed to ask； in an aggrieved tone。
I replied that it was； for about three months in the year； and
began to look about me。
Soon I found my bearings。 In front of me were great piles of
buildings； looking dim and mysterious in the fog； in which I
recognised the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey； for
both could be seen from where we stood in front of the
Westminster Bridge Station。 I explained their identity to Oro。
〃Good；〃 he said。 〃Let us enter your Place of Talk。〃
〃But I am not a member； and we have no passes for the
Strangers' Gallery；〃 I expostulated。
〃We shall not need any；〃 he replied contemptuously。 〃Lead on。〃
Thus adjured； I crossed the road； Oro following me。 Looking
round； to my horror I saw him right in the path of a motor…bus
which seemed to go over him。
〃There's an end to Oro；〃 thought I to myself。 〃Well； at any
rate； I have got home。〃
Next instant he was at my side quite undisturbed by the
incident of the bus。 We came to a policeman at the door and I
hesitated； expecting to be challenged。 But the policeman seemed
absolutely indifferent to our presence； even when Oro marched
past him in his flowing robes。 So I followed with a like success。
Then I understood that we must be invisible。
We passed to the lobby； where members were hurrying to and fro；
and constituents and pressmen were gathered； and so on into the
House。 Oro walked up its floor and took his stand by the table；
in front of the Speaker。 I followed him； none saying us No。
As it chanced there was what is called a scene in progressI
think it was over Irish matters； the details are of no account。
Members shouted； Ministers prevaricated and grew angry； the
Speaker intervened。 On the whole； it was rather a degrading
spectacle。 I stood； or seemed to stand； and watched it all。 Oro；
in his sweeping robes； which looked so incongruous in that place；
stepped； or seemed to step； up to the principal personages of the
Government and Opposition； whom I indicated to him； and inspected
them one by one； as a naturalist might examine strange insects。
Then； returning to me； he said：
〃Come away； I have seen and heard enough。 Who would have
thought that this nation of yours was struggling for its life in
war？〃
We passed out of the House and somehow came to Trafalgar
Square。 A meeting was in progress there； convened； apparently； to
advocate the rights of Labour； also those of women； also to
protest against things in general； especially the threat of
Conscription in the service of the country。
Here the noise was tremendous； and； the fog having lifted
somewhat； we could see everything。 Speakers bawled from the base
of Nelson's column。 Their supporters cheered； their adversaries
rushed at them； and in one or two instances succeeded in pulling
them down。 A woman climbed up and began to scream out something
which could only be heard by a few reporters gathered round her。
I