The Haricot-Weevil 



The problem of the haricot had reached 

 this stage, almost elucidated by the insect's 

 evidence alone, when an unexpected docu- 

 ment came and gave me the last word of the 

 riddle. It is once more a poet and a very 

 famous poet M. Jose Maria de Heredia, 1 

 who comes to the naturalist's aid. Without 

 suspecting the service which he is rendering 

 me, the village schoolmaster lends me a ma- 

 gazine 2 in which I read the following 

 conversation between the masterly chaser of 

 sonnets and a lady journalist who asks him 

 which of his works he prefers : 



" 'What would you have me say?' asks 

 the poet. 'You place me in a great 

 difficulty. ... I do not know which sonnet 

 I like best: they all cost me terrible pains 

 to write. . . . Which do you yourself 

 prefer?' 



" 'How can I possibly make a choice, my 

 dear master, out of so many jewels, each of 

 which is perfectly beautiful? You flash 

 pearls, emeralds and rubies before my 

 astonished eyes; how can I decide to prefer 



1 The academician (1842-1905). ^Translator's Note. 



2 Annales politiques et litteraires Les Enfants jugis 

 par leur peres. Christmas number, 1901. Author's Note. 



275 



