The wreck
seemed to have been there for a very great while; for the
resemblance to boat timbers could scarcely be traced.
"Well, Jupiter picked up the parchment, wrapped the beetle in it,
and gave it to me. Soon afterwards we turned to go home, and on the
way met Lieutenant G--. I showed him the insect, and he begged me to
let him take it to the fort. On my consenting, he thrust it
forthwith into his waistcoat pocket, without the parchment in which it
had been wrapped, and which I had continued to hold in my hand
during his inspection. Perhaps he dreaded my changing my mind, and
thought it best to make sure of the prize at once --you know how
enthusiastic he is on all subjects connected with Natural History.
At the same time without being conscious of it, I must have
deposited the parchment in my own pocket.
"You remember that when I went to the table, for the purpose of
making a sketch of the beetle, I found no paper where it was usually
kept. I looked in the drawer, and found none there. I searched my
pockets, hoping to find an old letter --and then my hand fell upon the
parchment.
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