All the day!"
Suddenly it perceived before it, at some distance, a mare harnessed to a cart, moving on slowly. A peasant was sitting in the cart.
'The gnat rejoiced: "Now I can eat my fill; when I shall have dined off the man I'll taste the horse." So it flew straight on to the man's forehead, and stung with all its force.
'The peasant passed the palm of his hand over his forehead, crushed the gnat, and threw it behind the cart, and all was over with it.'
The Lilac Old Man had finished his tale.
'Basil, are you not asleep?' asked the first Old Man.
'Not yet, Mr. Old Man,' answered Basil.
'Do you wish to sleep?'
'I do.'
'Aaa!' yawned the Red Old Man.