‘Here,—within a few feet of where you are standing.’

‘Are you serious?’

‘Perfectly.’

‘What did you see?’

‘I saw the legendary Apotheosis of the Beetle performed, last night, before my eyes, with a gaudy magnificence at which the legends never hinted.’

‘That is odd. I once thought that I saw something of the kind myself.’

‘So I understand.’

‘From whom?’

‘From a friend of yours.’

‘From a friend of mine?—Are you sure it was from a friend of mine?’