invitation.

--Show us the man in the moon,--said That Boy.---I should so like to see
a double star!--said Scheherezade, with a very pretty air of smiling
modesty.

--Will you go, if we make up a party?--I asked the Master.

--A cold in the head lasts me from three to five days,--answered the
Master.--I am not so very fond of being out in the dew like
Nebuchadnezzar: that will do for you young folks.

--I suppose I must be one of the young folks, not so young as our
Scheherezade, nor so old as the Capitalist,--young enough at any rate to
want to be of the party. So we agreed that on some fair night when the
Astronomer should tell us that there was to be a fine show in the skies,
we would make up a party and go to the Observatory. I asked the Scarabee
whether he would not like to make one of us.

--Out of the question, sir, out of the question. I am altogether too
much occupied with an important scientific investigation to devote any
considerable part of an evening to star-gazing.

--Oh, indeed,--said I,--and may I venture to ask on what particular point
you are engaged just at present?

-Certainly, sir, you may. It is, I suppose, as difficult and important a
matter to be investigated as often comes before a student of natural
history. I wish to settle the point once for all whether the Pediculus
Mellitae is or is not the larva of Meloe.