think it is a new one. From what I have seen of it so
far, I have every reason to believe that it is Gambert's comet, which
was discovered in 1826, and became visible to the naked eye in the
autumn of 1833. It then crossed the orbit of the earth one month after
the earth had passed the point of intersection. After that, some force
divided it, and in '46 and '52 it reappeared as twin comets constantly
separating. Now it would seem that the two masses have come together
again: and as they are both larger in bulk and greater in density it
would appear that, somewhere in the distant fields of Space, they have
united with some other and denser body. The result is, that what is
practically a new comet, with a much denser nucleus than any so far
seen, is approaching our system. Unless a miracle happens, or there is a
practically impossible error in my calculations, it will cross the orbit
of the earth thirteen months from to-day, at the moment that the earth
itself arrives at the point of intersection."

So far Auriole had listened to the stiff scientific phraseology with
more interest than alarm; but now she took advantage of a little pause,
and said:

"And the consequences, Mr Lennard? I mean the consequences to us as
living beings. You may as well tell me everything now that you've gone
so far."

"I am going to," he said, stopping for a moment in his walk, "and I am
going to tell you something more than that. Granted that what I have
said happens, one of two things must follow. If the nucleus of the comet
is solid enough to pass through our atmosphere without being dissipated,
it will strike the surface with so much force that both it and the earth
will probably be transformed into fiery vapour by the conversion of the
motion of the two bodies into heat. If not, its contact with the oxygen
of the earth's atmosphere will produce an aerial conflagration which, if
it does not roast alive every living thing on earth, will convert the
oxygen, by combustion, into an irrespirable and poisonous gas, and so
kill us by a slower, but no less fatal, process."

"Horrible!" she said, shivering this time. "You speak like a judge
pronouncing sentence of death on the whole human race! I suppose there
is no possibility of reprieve? Well, go on!"

"Yes," he said, "there is something else. Those are the scientific
facts, as far as they go. I am going to tell you the chances now--and
something more. There is just one chance--one possible w