120 INSECT MANUFACTURES. 



He then asked him how much he had to pay ; the 

 negro answered that he could not possibly sell 

 them for less than two reals. Our traveller fully 

 believed him, and would have purchased them, if 

 necessary, at a much larger sum. That the negro 

 might not think him dissatisfied with the bargain, 

 he gave him a piaster (value eight reals), telling 

 him he had no change, and therefore he should 

 give him the rest to drink his health. The good 

 old negro rubbed his eyes, thinking he was still 

 dreaming, and then loaded de Menonville with 

 thanks, while the latter brought in his two 

 Indians, gave them the hampers to carry, and then 

 set off as fast as possible. " My heart," he says, 

 "beat quickly, for it seemed to me that I had 

 carried off the golden fleece, but might yet be 

 pursued by the furious dragon who kept guard 

 over it. All along the road I kept saying, ' At 

 last they are in my power ;' and I could willingly 

 have sung for joy if I had not been afraid of being; 

 heard. I arrived at my inn quite out of breath, 

 without having met a single person in the streets ; 

 it was about sun-rise ; no one was awake in the 



