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underground city was to be attributed。 They had mastered
architecture and the arts； as their buildings and statues showed；
they could fly through the air better than we have learned to do
within the last few years。
More； they； or some of them； had learned the use of the Fourth
Dimension； that is their most instructed individuals； could move
through opposing things； as well as over them； up into them and
across them。 This power these possessed in a two…fold form。 I
mean； that they could either disintegrate their bodies at one
spot and cause them to integrate again at another； or they could
project what the old Egyptians called the Ka or Double； and
modern Theosophists name the Astral Shape； to any distance。
Moreover； this Double； or Astral Shape； while itself invisible；
still； so to speak； had the use of its senses。 It could see； it
could hear； and it could remember； and； on returning to the body；
it could avail itself of the experience thus acquired。
Thus； at least； said Yva； while Bickley contemplated her with a
cold and unbelieving eye。 She even went further and alleged that
in certain instances； individuals of her extinct race had been
able to pass through the ether and to visit other worlds in the
depths of space。
〃Have you ever done that？〃 asked Bickley。
〃Once or twice I dreamed that I did；〃 she replied quietly。
〃We can all dream；〃 he answered。
As it was my lot to make acquaintance with this strange and
uncanny power at a later date； I will say no more of it now。
Telepathy； she declared； was also a developed gift among the
Sons of Wisdom； indeed； they seem to have used it as we use
wireless messages。 Only； in their case； the sending and receiving
stations were skilled and susceptible human beings who went on
duty for so many hours at a time。 Thus intelligence was
transmitted with accuracy and despatch。 Those who had this
faculty were； she said； also very apt at reading the minds of
others and therefore not easy to deceive。
〃Is that how you know that I had been trying to analyse your
Life…water？〃 asked Bickley。
〃Yes；〃 she answered； with her unvarying smile。 〃At the moment I
spoke thereof you were wondering whether my father would be angry
if he knew that you had taken the water in a little flask。〃 She
studied him for a moment； then added： 〃Now you are wondering；
first； whether I did not see you take the water from the fountain
and guess the purpose； and； secondly； whether perhaps Bastin did
not tell me what you were doing with it when we met in the
sepulchre。〃
〃Look here；〃 said the exasperated Bickley； 〃I admit that
telepathy and thought…reading are possible to a certain limited
extent。 But supposing that you possess those powers； as I think
in English； and you do not know English； how can you interpret
what is passing in my mind？〃
〃Perhaps you have been teaching me English all this while
without knowing it； Bickley。 In any case； it matters little；
seeing that what I read is the thought； not the language with
which it is clothed。 The thought comes from your mind to mine
that is； if I wish it； which is not oftenand I interpret it in
my own or other tongues。〃
〃I am glad to hear it is not often； Lady Yva； since thoughts
are generally considered private。〃
〃Yes； and therefore I will read yours no more。 Why should I；
when they are so full of disbelief of all I tell you； and
sometimes of other things about myself which I do not seek to
know？〃
〃No wonder that； according to the story in the pictures； those
Nations； whom you named Barbarians； made an end of your people；
Lady Yva。〃
〃You are mistaken； Bickley； the Lord Oro made an end of the
Nations； though against my prayer；〃 she added with a sigh
Then Bickley departed in a rage； and did not appear again for
an hour。
〃He is angry；〃 she said； looking after him； 〃nor do I wonder。
It is hard for the very clever like Bickley； who think that they
have mastered all things； to find that after all they are quite
ignorant。 I am sorry for him； and I like him very much。〃
〃Then you would be sorry for me also； Lady Yva？〃
〃Why？〃 she asked with a dazzling smile； 〃when your heart is
athirst for knowledge； gaping for it like a fledgling's mouth for
food； and； as it chances； though I am not very wise； I can
satisfy something of your soul…hunger。〃
〃Not very wise！〃 I repeated。
〃No； Humphrey。 I think that Bastin； who in many ways is so
stupid； has more true wisdom than I have； because he can believe
and accept without question。 After all； the wisdom of my people
is all of the universe and its wonders。 What you think magic is
not magic； it is only gathered knowledge and the finding out of
secrets。 Bickley will tell you the same； although as yet he does
not believe that the mind of man can stretch so far。〃
〃You mean that your wisdom has in it nothing of the spirit？〃
〃Yes； Humphrey； that is what I mean。 I do not even know if
there is such a thing as spirit。 Our god was Fate； Bastin's god
is a spirit； and I think yours also。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Therefore； I wish you and Bastin to teach me of your god； as
does Oro； my father。 I wantoh！ so much； Humphrey； to learn
whether we live after death。〃
〃You！〃 I exclaimed。 〃You who； according to the story； have
slept for two hundred and fifty thousand years！ You； who have；
unless I mistake； hinted that during that sleep you may have
lived in other shapes！ Do you doubt whether we can live after
death？〃
〃Yes。 Sleep induced by secret arts is not death； and during
that sleep the I within might wander and inhabit other shapes；
because it is forbidden to be idle。 Moreover； what seems to be
death may not be death； only another form of sleep from which the
I awakes again upon the world。 But at last comes the real death；
when the I is extinguished to the world。 That much I know；
because my people learned it。〃
〃You mean； you know that men and women may live again and again
upon the world？〃
〃Yes； Humphrey； I do。 For in the world there is only a certain
store of life which in many forms travels on and on； till the lot
of each I is fulfilled。 Then comes the real death； and after
thatwhat； oh！what？〃
〃You must ask Bastin；〃 I said humbly。 〃I cannot dare to teach
of such matters。〃
〃No； but you can and do believe； and that helps me； Humphrey；
who am in tune with you。 Yes； it helps me much more than do
Bastin and his new religion； because such is woman's way。 Now； I
think Bickley will soon return； so let us talk of other matters。
Tell me of the history of your people； Humphrey； that my father
says are now at war。〃
Chapter XVIII
The Accident
Bickley did return； having recovered his temper； since after
all it was impossible for anyone to remain angry with the Lady
Yva for long； and we spent a very happy time together。 We
instructed and she was the humble pupil。
How swift and nimble was her intelligence！ In that one morning
she learned all our alphabet and how to write our letters。 It
appeared that among her people； at any rate in their later
periods； the only form of writing that was used was a highly
concentrated shorthand which saved labour。 They had no journals；
since news which arrived telepathically or by some form of
wireless was proclaimed to those who cared to listen； and on it
all formed their own judgments。 In the same way poems and even
romances were repeated； as in Homer's day or in the time of the
Norse sagas； by word of mouth。 None of their secret knowledge was
written down。 Like the ritual of Freemasonry it was considered
too sacred。
Moreover； when men lived for hundreds of years this was not so
necessary； especially as their great fear was lest it should fall
into the hands of the outside nations； whom they called
Barbarians。 For； be it remembered； these Sons of Wisdom were
always a very small people who ruled by the weight of their
intelligence and the strength of their accumulated lore。 Indeed；
they could scarcely be called a people； rather were they a few
families； all of them more or less connected with the original
ruling Dynasty which considered itself half divine。 These
families were waited upon by a multitude of servants or slaves
drawn from the subject nations； for the most part skilled in one
art or another； or perhaps； remarkable for their personal beauty。
Still they remained outside the pale。
The Sons of Wisdom did not intermarry with them or teach them
their learning； or even allow them to drink of their Life…water。
They ruled them as men rule dogs； treating them with kindness；
but no more； and as many dogs run their course and die in the
lifetime of one master； so did many of these slaves in that of
one of the Sons of Wisdom。 Therefore； the slaves came to regard
their lords not as men； but gods。 They lived but three score
years and ten like the rest of us； and