“ ‘They are ant-lions of finance. Their habits are droll. They meet together in the morning in a temple consecrated to their operations. There they plan how best they may undermine the finest structures of their neighbours. Their form of worship is perhaps the most dangerous in the world, as they sacrifice many victims, simple and innocent ones. When one of these ant-lions has done a good day’s work, sucked the life’s blood from some widow or orphan, he is the pleasantest evening companion imaginable. That bejewelled female with the dirty diamond-ringed neck and fingers is one of their wives.’
“I soon left the husbands to talk over their pitfalls, and listened to the gossip of their wives.
“ ‘My dear friend,’ said one of them, ‘you have a musical cousin always about you of whom we may talk undisturbed.’
“ ‘Bah! we do not get on; he grumbles so if I eat sweets while rendering sonatas or quatuors of Haydn or Mozart.’
“The sad counsels of the old Rhinoceros came to my mind, and I began to understand that he had been at least truthful. My reflections were here interrupted by an altercation between two insects. The questions discussed were taken up by all the others. I afterwards learned the nature of the questions, and the decisions were the following:—
“1st, Green tea is more destructive to the nerves than black tea.
“2d, Self-love is the motive of all action in insects.
“3d, The hill of St. Denis is about as steep as that of Clichy.
“4th, It is cheaper to live in France than in England.
“5th, It is better to be rich than poor.