was that it was as large as the man had been, and that it was, in some way, standing up on end, the legs towards me.  But, the moment it came in view, it began to dwindle, and that so rapidly that, in a couple of seconds at most, a little heap of drapery was lying on the floor, on which was a truly astonishing example of the coleoptera.  It appeared to be a beetle.  It was, perhaps, six or seven inches high, and about a foot in length.  Its scales were of a vivid golden green.  I could distinctly see where the wings were sheathed along the back, and, as they seemed to be slightly agitated, I looked, every moment, to see them opened, and the thing take wing.

I was so astonished,—­as who would not have been?—­that for an appreciable space of time I was practically in a state of stupefaction.  I could do nothing but stare.  I was acquainted with the legendary transmigrations of Isis, and with the story of the beetle which issues from the woman’s womb through all eternity, and with the other pretty tales, but this, of which I was an actual spectator, was something new, even in legends, If the man, with whom I had just been speaking, was gone, where had he gone to?  If this glittering creature was there, in his stead, whence had it come?

I do protest this much, that, after the first shock of surprise had passed, I retained my presence of mind.  I felt as an investigator might feel, who has stumbled, haphazard, on some astounding, some epoch-making, discovery.  I was conscious that I should have to make the best use of my mental faculties if I was to take full advantage of so astonishing an accident.  I kept my glance riveted on the creature, with the idea of photographing it on my brain.  I believe that if it were possible to take a retinal print—­which it someday will be—­you would have a perfect picture of what it was I saw, Beyond doubt it was a lamellicorn, one of the copridae.  With the one exception of its monstrous size, there were the characteristics in plain view;—­the convex body, the large head, the projecting clypeus.  More, its smooth head and throat seemed to suggest that it was a female.  Equally beyond a doubt, apart from its size, there were unusual features present too.  The eyes were not only unwontedly conspicuous, they gleamed as if they were lighted by internal flames,—­in some indescribable fashion they reminded me of my vanished visitor.  The colouring was superb, and the creature appeared to have the chameleon-like faculty of lightening and darkening the shades at will.  Its not least curious feature was its restlessness.  It was in a state of continual agitation; and, as if it resented my inspection, the more I looked at it the more its agitation grew.  As I have said, I expected every moment to see it take wing and circle through the air.