PAGE 1

THE CAUSE AND THE CAUSER. 29 "I hear by your voice that you bring news, doctor. Say on. I can listen as I am," said Sir Helix, coming to the door. And the following dialogue passed between them. Dr. Earwig. There are foreign bodies in orchis "flowers, Sir Helix. They are part of the flower. They hold the flower-dust." Sir Helix. What business have the insects to take them away then? People must expect to come to grief who meddle with what does not belong to them." Dr. Earwig. "But they don't take them; at least they don't know that they do." Sir Helix. "You refine, doctor, you refine. They must either take them or let them alone." Dr. Earwig. "No, it is drawing too straight lines to say so. They visit orchis flowers for food, and sometimes as they dive into a nectary a foreign body drops on their proboscis or head. You can't call that their taking it, can you ?" Sir Helix. Is it the flower's doing then ?" Dr. Earwig. "They cannot be said to do it either. The fact is, it happens. The entrance to