“ ‘And the budget? those two famous ends of the year which it is so important to join together decently.’ “ ‘That does not matter either to you or to me.’ {122} “Two rather unsightly insects were putting their heads together in a corner. ‘Who are those two creatures?’ I inquired. “ ‘They are ant-lions of finance. Their habits are droll. They meet together in the morning in a temple consecrated to their operations. There they plan how best they may undermine the finest structures of their neighbours. Their form of worship is perhaps the most dangerous in the world, as they sacrifice many victims, simple and innocent ones. When one of these ant-lions has done a good day’s work, sucked the life’s blood from some widow or orphan, he is the pleasantest evening companion imaginable. That bejewelled female with the dirty diamond-ringed neck and fingers is one of their wives.’ “I soon left the husbands to talk over their pitfalls, and listened to the gossip of their wives. “ ‘My dear friend,’ said one of them, ‘you have a musical cousin always about you of whom we may talk undisturbed.’ “ ‘Bah! we do not get on; he grumbles so if I eat sweets while rendering _sonatas_ or _quatuors_ of Haydn or Mozart.’ “The sad counsels of the old Rhinoceros came to my mind, and I began to understand that he had been at least truthful. My reflections were here interrupted by an altercation between two insects. The questions discussed were taken up by all the others. I afterwards learned the nature of the questions, and the decisions were the following:— “1st, Green tea is more destructive to the nerves than black tea. “2d, Self-love is the motive of all action in insects. “3d, The hill of St. Denis is about as steep as that of Clichy. “4th, It is cheaper to live in France than in England. “5th, It is better to be rich than poor. “6th, Friendship is a sentiment weaker than love. “This last question was given up as insoluble at the request of the ephemera present. An Alpine hermit made a note of it, so as to be able to meditate on the subject at leisure in the solitude of his cell. I then, taking my friend by the arm, inquired, ‘Is there no spot in this large garden where one could find an insect that would converse without pretending to be interesting?’ “ ‘Yes,’ he replied, scratching his pate with an air of embarrassment; ‘follow me.’ “We flew away into the dark night, but my guide made so many circuits that I perceived he was quite at a loss where to go. {123} “ ‘I do not think,’ he said, ‘it would be worth while to take you into that vast swamp where one lives in isolation like a water-rat. Let us cross the river. On its bank yonder are lilies to whom I might introduce you. They live in peace and silence, fearing to defile themselves by unkind sentiments.’ “ ‘Is there any gaiety there?’ “ ‘In the land of lilies one is sadder than elsewhere, but the reason of that is too long to enter upon here.’