It was clear to me that he was defending himself against my greater knowledge, but it was a matter of no importance to me. I was faintly oppressed by the dreary immensity of the room. I had become sensitive to atmosphere, and the feeling of that room was not harmonious. The Premier stood in deep thought. "If the germ prolongs life, it will lead to complications," he remarked. "The question of being too old has attracted public attention for some time now, which shows the way the wind is blowing. Oldness has become, in a small degree, a problem. The world is younger than it used to be--more impatient, more anxious to live a free life, to escape from any form of bondage. And so people have begun to ask what we are to do with our old men." He paused and looked at Jason. "My friend Jason thinks these murders are caused indirectly by the germ." "It is possible." "It seems fantastic. But there may be something in it." The Premier raised his eyes and studied the ceiling. "There is certainly some excitement abroad. We are dealing with an unprecedented situation. I therefore propose to say to-night that if, in the course of time, we find that life is prolonged and disease done away with, new laws will have to be considered." "Not only new laws," I said. "We shall have to reconstruct the whole future of life. But there is no hurry. There is plenty of time. There is eternity before us." "What do you eat?" demanded the Premier suddenly. "A little bread or biscuit." He clasped his hands behind his back and surveyed me for quite a minute. "I don't believe you're a quack," he observed. "But when you walked into the room, I was doubtful." "Why?" "Because you wouldn't look at me squarely." "Why should I look at you squarely? I looked at you and saw you. I have no desire to make any impression on you, or to dominate you in any way. It was sufficient just to see you. As Immortals, we do not waste our time looking at one another squarely. An Immortal cannot act." The Premier smiled to himself and took out his watch. "I am obliged to you for the instance," he said. "Good-night." I rose and walked towards the door. On my way I stopped before a vast dingy oil-painting. "Why do you all deceive yourselves that you admire things like that? Throw it away. When you become an Immortal you won't live here." The Premier and Jason stood together on the hearth-rug. They watched me intently as I went out and closed the door behind me. A servant met me on the landing and escorted me downstairs. I observed that he was an Immortal. "What are you doing here?" I asked. "I am a spectator," he said in a calm voice. "And you?" "I, too, am a spectator." CHAPTER XXIV NIGHT OF AN IMMORTAL I passed a most remarkable night. On reaching home I went to bed as usual. My mind was busy, but what busied it was not the events of the day.