“What other links?” demanded François.
“The humming-bird, you remember, when attacked, was himself a destroyer. He was killing the little blue-winged fly.”
“That is certainly another link, but—”
“Who killed the eagle?”
“Ah, true! Basil, then, was the last link in the chain of destruction.”
“Perhaps the most criminal, too,” said Lucien, “because the least necessary. The other creatures were but following out their instincts to procure food, whereas Basil’s only motive was one of wanton destruction.”
“I beg to differ with you, Luce,” said Basil, interrupting his brother, sharply, “it was no such thing. I shot that eagle because he killed the kite, and robbed him of his prey, instead of using his industry and getting food for himself. That’s why I added a link to your chain.”
“In that sense,” replied Lucien, smiling at his brother—who seemed a little ruffled at being thus charged with unnecessary cruelty,—“in that sense you were, perhaps, justifiable; though it is difficult to understand why the eagle was more guilty than the kite himself. He took only one life, and so did the kite.”
“But,” rejoined Basil, “in addition to taking away the life of his victim, he robbed him. Robbery and murder both. Now the kite was guilty only of the latter.”
“Ha! ha! ha!” laughed Lucien and François together. “There is a distinction with a difference!”