But his indignation at their unworthy suspicions, and his burning desire that an irrefragable proof of the truth of his statements might be afforded to the sceptics, by an actual inspection of the earth by two pairs of Hesperian eyes, at last overcame his scruples. He argued that, inasmuch as he himself had actually discovered the mode of passing the interplanetary space, he was, in that respect, bound by no promise to Mr. Homi; and that, having warned the adventurers of the risk they ran, his duty to them was discharged. So he gave way at last, and imparted the secret of interplanetary transference by the process of disintegration. All in vain; the disintegration was effected at once without the slightest difficulty; but when that stage was reached the Hesperian polarity proved too strong for the terrestrial influence; overcame it instantly, and the two missionaries to the earth, to their very great chagrin, found themselves reintegrated, in perfect safety, at the South Pole of Venus, according to the ordinary Law. It was quite plain that the Hesperians were absolutely bound to their planet, and that escape, even if it were desirable, was hopeless. CHAPTER XIV. Of the further wanderings of Dr. Van Varken—Of his visits to Australis and the great Observatory—Of a strange physical Theory concerning the Tornado—Supposed cause of the Doctor’s return to the Earth. After the delivery of his remarkable lectures, the doctor’s notes become even scantier than before, and are of quite a fragmentary character. We can gather from them that his time thenceforth was mainly occupied in travelling in various directions through the country; and this is, very likely, the cause of the deficiencies in his memoranda. He seems to have been greatly struck with the vast engineering works which met him everywhere; and especially with the magnificent roads on which carriages, like those at Lucetta, ran on rails; these carriages were free to all; everyone in his turn took his share in managing the service, like any other calling. His first visit was to the great imperial metropolis, Australis, to which he of course proceeded by the submarine route.