"No," assented Grench, simply; "I am not at all ambitious. My entomology gives me great pleasure, or why should I not enjoy myself in my own way? Ah, Philip, you do not know what true enjoyment is."
"Certainly not—if it's butterflies."
"To see one of the Callidryas species for the first time is indeed a pleasure," said Peter, beaming with scientific rapture. "Then the Papilios, the Hesperidæ and the red Timitis——"
"Oh, oh!" yawned Philip, stretching himself, "how dry it sounds."
"Dry!" echoed Peter, indignantly; "the most fascinating pursuit in the world."
Philip looked kindly at the little man who appeared to be so satisfied with his simple pleasures.
"Decidedly, Peter, you are a happy person. Come with me on a cruise, and I will introduce you to the paradise of butterflies. Tropical America, Peter, where the insects are like flying flowers. Green butterflies, purple beetles, gilded moths——"
"Oh!" cried Peter, opening his eyes with delight, "I should like to go to South America. I would find a peculiar species there, the Heliconidæ. Why, Philip, if only——"
"Hark! there's the bell," exclaimed Cassim, rising with alacrity, rather thankful to escape Peter's lecture. "Is it Jack or Tim?"
"Tim," said Peter, promptly, "no one else would ring so violently."