"Don't it seem a bit like slavery to ha' bought it?" asked a tender-hearted matron. "And a bit blasphemous to ha' stuffed the poor mite?" complained another. "Oh no, my dear ladies. These creatures do not possess immortal souls," replied the Captain. "How be us to tell?" inquired the Dumpy Philosopher. "Only creatures who can pray possess immortal souls," declared the Captain piously. "When we pray we kneel. Mermaids cannot kneel because they have no legs." "There used to be a picture in the schuleroom of a camel on his knees," began Squinting Jack; but the Captain hurried off to the next object of interest, which was a snuffbox composed of various woods inlaid with mother of pearl. "A tragic and mysterious relic of the French Revolution, found in the hand of a Duke while his body was being removed for burial," he said in his most impressive manner. "This box is supposed to possess a most remarkable history, but it has not been opened since the original owner's death." "Will ye please to go on and tell us all about it," requested the Yellow Leaf. "It is the mystery of this box that nobody knows its history," came the answer. "Why don't ye open it, Captain?" "The second mystery of this box is that the secret of opening it is lost. It is alike on both sides, so that you cannot tell which is top and which bottom." "I'd open 'en quick enough," said the Wallower in Wealth. "And smash they lovely pearls all to pieces!" cried a lady indignantly. "'Twould be a pity to spoil a couple of mysteries," said Squinting Jack. "That's how I feel about it. As it is, this snuffbox is a genuinely romantic antique; but if we discovered its history--which I was assured by some gentleman in Paris is most astounding, although entirely unknown--it might lose a considerable part of its value. I have charged my wife to present this box to the President of the French Republic after I am taken from her. She is not bound to present it personally, but may either entrust it to the registered post, or hand it to his Excellency the French Ambassador at his official residence by appointment, whichever course may be most pleasing to her," said the Captain handsomely.