M. Bachalier, a French florist, kept some beautiful species of the
anemone to himself, which he had procured from the East Indies; and he
succeeded in withholding them, for ten years, from all who wished to
possess them likewise. A counsellor of the parliament, however, one day
paid him a visit, while the anemones were in seed, and in walking with
him round the garden contrived to let his gown fall upon them. By this
means he swept off a good number of the seeds; and his servant, who had
been apprised of the scheme, dexterously wrapt up the gown and secured
them. Any one must have been a sour moralist who should have considered
this to be a breach of the eighth commandment.
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