The Young Queens 



with bent head, till the cry shall have 

 ceased to resound. Indeed, some believe 

 that it is thanks to the prestige of this 

 cry, which the Sphinx Atropos imitates, 

 that the latter is able to enter the hive, 

 and gorge itself with honey, without the 

 least molestation on the part of the bees. 



For two or three days, sometimes even 

 for five, this indignant lament will be 

 heard, this challenge that the queen ad- 

 dresses to her well protected rivals. And 

 as these in their turn develop, in their turn 

 grow anxious to see the light, they too set 

 to work to gnaw the lids of their cells. 

 A mighty disorder would now appear to 

 threaten the republic. But the genius of 

 the hive, at the time that it formed its 

 decision, was able to foretell every conse- 

 quence that might ensue; and the guar- 

 dians have had their instructions : they 

 know exactly what must be done, hour by 

 hour, to meet the attacks of a foiled in- 



259 



