“In what way?” I asked, with a sad foreboding at heart.

“In supposing it to be a bug of real gold.”  He said this with an air of profound seriousness, and I felt inexpressibly shocked.

“This bug is to make my fortune,” he continued, with a triumphant smile, “to reinstate me in my family possessions.  Is it any wonder, then, that I prize it?  Since Fortune has thought fit to bestow it upon me, I have only to use it properly and I shall arrive at the gold of which it is the index.  Jupiter, bring me that scarabaeus!”

“What! de bug, massa?  I’d rudder not go fer trubble dat bug—­you mus git him for your own self.”  Hereupon Legrand arose, with a grave and stately air, and brought me the beetle from a glass case in which it was enclosed.  It was a beautiful scarabaeus, and, at that time, unknown to naturalists—­of course a great prize in a scientific point of view.  There were two round, black spots near one extremity of the back, and a long one near the other.  The scales were exceedingly hard and glossy, with all the appearance of burnished gold.  The weight of the insect was very remarkable, and, taking all things into consideration, I could hardly blame Jupiter for his opinion respecting it; but what to make of Legrand’s agreement with that opinion, I could not, for the life of me, tell.

“I sent for you,” said he, in a grandiloquent tone, when I had completed my examination of the beetle, “I sent for you, that I might have your counsel and assistance in furthering the views of Fate and of the bug——­”

“My dear Legrand,” I cried, interrupting him, “you are certainly unwell, and had better use some little precautions.  You shall go to bed, and I will remain with you a few days, until you get over this.  You are feverish and——­”

“Feel my pulse,” said he.

I felt it, and, to say the truth, found not the slightest indication of fever.

“But you may be ill, and yet have no fever.  Allow me this once to prescribe for you.  In the first place, go to bed.  In the next——­”

“You are mistaken,” he interposed, “I am as well as I can expect to be under the excitement which I suffer.  If you really wish me well, you will relieve this excitement.”

“And how is this to be done?”

“Very easily.  Jupiter and myself are going upon an expedition into the hills, upon the mainland, and in this expedition, we shall need the aid of some person in whom we can confide.  You are the only one we can trust.  Whether we succeed or fail, the excitement which you now perceive in me will be equally allayed.”

“I am anxious to oblige you in any way,” I replied; “but do you mean to say that this infernal beetle has any connection with your expedition into the hills?”

“It has.”

“Then, Legrand, I can become a party to no such absurd proceeding.”

“I am sorry—­very sorry—­for we shall have to try it by ourselves.”