The Colonel realized the situation had reached a climax. Something must be done.
“Since you will have it so,” he replied gravely, “I will answer you. Prepare yourselves to hear calmly, bravely.”
“Go on!” cried Kearns breathlessly.
“You are at present,” answered the Colonel, speaking very slowly and distinctly, “upon my estate at Idleslip, seven miles from the county seat of Pemberton. You are in the Empire of the United States, within the realm of His Majesty, Imperial and Royal, William the First, Emperor of the United States, King of the Empire State of New York!”
His two auditors were staring at him wide-eyed, speechless. It was difficult to decide whether they took in the full sense of his words.
“The date,” continued the Colonel with enforced calm, “is July the twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred and seventy-five. You say you entered the cave June tenth, nineteen hundred. If your statement is correct, you have been in a state of suspended animation for seventy-five years!”
CHAPTER IV
SEARCHING THE FILES
Seventy-five years!
For a moment both men stood breathless, stupefied. A groan was stifled upon Kearns’ lips and he leaned heavily upon the table for support. The Professor stared blankly at the speaker, then put both hands to his face and dropped back in his chair.
Was this some grim and ghastly joke; some hideous vagary of delirium, or the night?