Acquilla was right. After a moment I found myself perfectly accustomed to the new hygiene. In fact nothing could have been more delightful than this warm indolence, lying under the great panorama of the stars that shone down on me through the transparency above, as they shone down once on the Garden of Eden. But for a long time I was unable to close my eyes. All the startling discoveries of the day surged through my head in a confused torrent. What did I know after all? Even the hints that Acquilla had dropped added to my mystification. All had changed that I had known, but what had replaced the old in this era of women’s ascendancy? A world where a billion and a half human beings had been wiped out of existence! A world where all social traditions seemed to have been discarded! And in all this mystery what had become of man? Had we evolved into a state of polyandry and communism? Gradually these disturbing speculations passed away. I grew drowsy with some faint perfume that pervaded the room. I thought of Dianne with a quickening of my imagination. I thought of Acquilla too with an involuntary admiration, and yet with an instinctive apprehension. Acquilla and Dianne, both beautiful, yet so differently appealing. Acquilla who stimulated my mind and drew me to her with a soberer affection, Dianne who fascinated me dangerously and set my blood to racing with the flame of her young passion. Acquilla or Dianne? Perhaps in this new society Acquilla _and_ Dianne--and thus deliciously perplexed I fell asleep. CHAPTER VI When I awoke it was late in the morning and my imagination still, confused, listened for the warring jangle of the noises of New York. I sat up, stared about me and realization returned. Whether on account of the chemical infusion or the charge of electricity, I found the air more delicious than any I had yet breathed. I awoke refreshed and with an extraordinary sense of well being and following Acquilla’s directions, touched a button at my bedside. Almost immediately the languor of the atmosphere changed to an invigorating glow. I rose and started to examine my surroundings when the voice of Acquilla said: “Good morning, Bogardus. I hope you have rested well.” I turned hastily, snatching a dressing robe about me, with that instinctive modesty which is so difficult for a man to forget. To my amazement the room was empty, though the voice continued. “I have been called to a special meeting of the Population Council in New Orleans and won’t be back until late. However, the housekeeper has her instructions and you will find the library and the astronomical parlor enough to interest you until my return.” Following the direction of the voice I discovered a minute disk in the wall. The mystery was after all only a commonplace. Acquilla had used a dictaphone which had probably been automatically released when I had changed the temperature.