Your tendencies are out of the way and suspicious. You approach the

bounds of sorcery. You have dealings with unknown animals. You speak to

the populace of things that exist but for you alone, and the nature of

which is unknown, such as the hoemorrhoüs."

The hoemorrhoüs is a viper which was seen by Tremellius."

This repartee produced a certain disorder in the irritated science of

Doctor Æacus.

Ursus added, "The existence of the hoemorrhoüs is quite as true as that

of the odoriferous hyena, and of the civet described by Castellus."

Æacus got out of the difficulty by charging home.

Here are your own words, and very diabolical words they are. Listen."

With his eyes on his notes, Æacus read,--

Two plants, the thalagssigle and the aglaphotis, are luminous in the

evening, flowers by day, stars by night;" and looking steadily at Ursus,

What have you to say to that?"

Ursus answered,--

Every plant is a lamp. Its perfume is its light." Æacus turned over

other pages.

519

The Man Who Laughs