"In this pile you will see what we call _good choquettes_," resumed Henri. "I must tell you about them, for the species is peculiar. The worm inside them died before finishing its work and stuck onto the inside of the cocoon." He took one from the heap and shook it. "It does not rattle, you see. Nevertheless the filament on it is of excellent quality--not very strong, perhaps, but of fine texture. In contrast to these good choquettes is this tableful of _bad choquettes_. Like the others the silkworm died during his spinning, but this time he rotted away inside, leaving the cocoon black and mottled." "Healthy worms make the best cocoons, of course," Pierre rejoined. "Not at all," contradicted Henri. "Here is what is known as a calcined cocoon made by a worm which had a peculiar disease that turned it to powder. You would not think that such a creature could spin the best quality of silk there is, would you? Yet it is so. Listen to the queer rattle the cocoon has." Holding it to Pierre's ear he shook it gently. "These cocoons not only have excellent silk on them, but they have more of it than if they had been spun by a healthy worm. As a result they command the highest price and buyers are eager to find them." "I guess I don't know anything about silkworms or cocoons either," announced Pierre in dismay. Both boys laughed. "It is amazing how much there is to know about almost anything when you once start to learn about it from top to bottom," declared Henri. "I came into this filature when quite young, and it has taken me years to find out even the little I know now." "I think you know a lot," Pierre returned admiringly. "I'd be happy if I knew even half as much."