“I deny the fact!” said a voice from the other end of the table. All smiled, save the bore.
“You deny the fact, sir?” said he. “May I ask on what authority you condemn the investigations of my most learned friend?”
“I deny the fact,” replied Smith, “and I base my denial on evidence wedded to immortal verse well known to every scholar, at least, at this table.”
The emphasis laid on scholar nettled the naturalist by its implication. “Well, sir,” he said, “will you have the kindness to quote your authority?”
“I will, sir. The evidence is those well known, I may say immortal, lines:
“‘Who saw him die?’
‘I,’ said the fly,
‘With my little eye!’”
The guests roared, and during the rest of the dinner nothing further was heard on the subject of natural history.