Part 49 (1/2)
”What is it?” asked Ethel.
”Do you believe,” asked Tozer, solemnly, ”that we're living in the Seventh Vial?”
”Vial? Seventh Vial?” said Ethel, in fresh amazement.
”Yes, the Seventh Vial,” said Tozer, in a sepulchral voice.
”Living in the Seventh Vial? I really don't know how one can live in a vial.”
”The Great Tribulation, you know.”
”Great Tribulation?”
”Yes; for instance, now, don't you believe in the Apocalyptic Beast?”
”I don't know,” said Ethel, faintly.
”Well, at any rate, you believe in his number--you must.”
”His number?”
”Yes.”
”What do you mean?”
”Why, the number six, six, six--six hundred and sixty-six.”
”I really don't understand this,” said Ethel.
”Don't you believe that the Sixth Vial is done?”
”Sixth Vial? What, another vial?”
”Yes; and the drying of the Euphrates.”
”The Euphrates? drying?” repeated Ethel in a trembling voice. She began to be alarmed. She felt sure that this man was insane. She had never heard such incoherency in her life. And she was alone with him.
She stole a timid look, and saw his long, sallow face, on which there was now a preoccupied expression, and the look did not rea.s.sure her.
But Tozer himself was a little puzzled, and felt sure that his companion must have her own opinions on the subject, so he began again:
”Now I suppose you've read Fleming on the Papacy?”
”No, I haven't. I never heard of it.”
”Strange, too. You've heard of Elliot's 'Horae Apocalypticae?', I suppose?”
”No,” said Ethel, timidly.
”Well, it's all in c.u.mming--and you've read him, of course?”