Thereuponweexchangedafriendlygripofthehandandparted。I
neversawhimagain。Hisfatherlyargumentshadsoonconvincedme:
Iwaspreparedtoheartheblunttruth。Afewmonthsearlier，I
hadreceivedmynominationasanassistantlecturerinzoologyattheuniversityofPoitiers。Theyofferedmearidiculoussalary。
Afterpayingthecostsofmoving，Ishouldhavehadhardlythreefrancsadayleft;and，onthisincome，Ihadtokeepmyfamily，numberingseveninall。Ihastenedtodeclinetheverygreathonor。
No，scienceoughtnottopracticethesejests。Ifwehumblepersonsareofusetoher，sheshouldatleastenableustolive。
Ifshecan’tdothat，thenletherleaveustobreakstonesonthehighway。Oh，yes，Iwaspreparedforthetruthwhenthathonestfellowtalkedtomeoffrockcoatedpoverty！Iamtellingthestoryofanotverydistantpast。Sincethen，thingshaveimprovedconsiderably;but，whenthepearwasproperlyripened，Iwasnolongerofanagetopickit。
AndwhatwasItodonow，toovercomethedifficultymentionedbymyinspectorandconfirmedbymypersonalexperience？Iwouldtakeupindustrialchemistry。ThemunicipallecturesatSaintMartialplacedaspaciousandfairlywell—equippedlaboratoryatmydisposal。Whynotmakethemostofit？
ThechiefmanufactureofAvignonwasmadder。Thefarmersuppliedtherawmaterialtothefactories，whereitwasturnedintopurerandmoreconcentratedproducts。Mypredecessorhadgoneinforitanddonewellbyit，sopeoplesaid。Iwouldfollowinhisfootstepsandusethevatsandfurnaces，theexpensiveplantwhichIhadinherited。Sotowork。
WhatshouldIsetmyselftoproduce？Iproposedtoextractthecoloringsubstance，alizarin，toseparateitfromtheothermattersfoundwithitintheroot，toobtainitinthepurestateandinaformthatallowedofthedirectprintingofthestuffs，amuchquickerandmoreartisticmethodthantheolddyeingprocess。
Nothingcouldbesimplerthanthisproblem，oncethesolutionwasknown;buthowtremendouslyobscurewhileithadstilltobesolved！Idarenotcalltomindalltheimaginationandpatiencespentuponendlessendeavorswhichnothing，noteventhemadnessofthem，discouraged。Whatmightymeditationsinthesomberchurch！
Whatglowingdreams，soontobefollowedbysoredisappointment，whenexperimentspokethelastwordandupsetthescaffoldingofmyplans。Stubbornastheslaveofoldamassingapeculiumforhisenfranchisement，Iusedtoreplytothecheckofyesterdaybythefreshattemptoftomorrow，oftenasfaultyastheothers，sometimesthericherbyanimprovement，andIwentonindefatigably，forI
toocherishedtheindomitableambitiontosetmyselffree。
ShouldIsucceed？Perhapsso。Iatlasthadasatisfactoryanswer。Iobtained，inacheapandpracticalfashion，thepurecoloringmatter，concentratedinasmallvolumeandexcellentforbothprintinganddyeing。Oneofmyfriendstookupmyprocessonalargescaleinhisworks;afewcalicofactoriesadoptedtheproduceandexpressedthemselvesdelightedwithit。Thefuturesmiledatlast;apinkriftopenedinmygraysky。IshouldpossessthemodestfortunewithoutwhichImustdenymyselfthepleasureofteachinginauniversity。Freedofthetorturinganxietyaboutmydailybread，Ishouldbeabletoliveateaseamongmyinsects。
Inthemidstofthejoysofseeingtheseproblemssolvedbychemistry，yetanotherrayofsunshinewasreservedforme，addingitsgladnesstothatofmysuccess。Letusgobackacoupleofyears。Thechiefinspectorsvisitedourgrammarschool。Thesepersonagestravelinpairs:oneattendstoliterature，theothertoscience。Whentheinspectionwasoverandthebookschecked，thestaffwassummonedtotheprincipal’sdrawingroom，toreceivethepartingadmonitionsofthetwoluminaries。Themanofsciencebegan。Ishouldbesadlyputtoittorememberwhathesaid。Itwascoldprofessionalprose，madeupofsoullesswordswhichthehearerforgotoncethespeaker’sbackwasturned，wordsmerelyboringtoboth。Ihadheardenoughofthesechillysermonsinmytime;onemoreofthemcouldnothopetomakeanimpressiononme。
Theinspectorinliteraturespokenext。Atthefirstwordswhichheuttered，Isaidtomyself:’Oho！Thisisaverydifferentbusiness！’
Thespeechwasaliveandvigorousandfullofimages;indifferenttoscholasticcommonplaces，theideassoared，hoveringgentlyinthesereneheightsofakindlyphilosophy。Thistime，Ilistenedwithpleasure;Ievenfeltstirred。Herewasnoofficialhomily:
itwasfullofimpassionedzeal，ofwordsthatcarriedyouwiththem，utteredbyanhonestmanaccomplishedintheartofspeaking，anoratorinthetruesenseoftheword。Inallmyschoolexperience，Ihadneverhadsuchatreat。
Whenthemeetingbrokeup，myheartbeatfasterthanusual:’Whatapity，’Ithought，’thatmyside，thescienceside，cannotbringmeintocontact，someday，withthatinspector！Itseemstomethatweshouldbecomegreatfriends。’
Iinquiredhisnameofmycolleagues，whowerealwaysbetterinformedthanI。TheytoldmeitwasVictorDuruy。
Well，oneday，twoyearslater，asIwaslookingaftermySaintMartiallaboratoryinthemidstofthesteamfrommyvats，withmyhandsthecolorofboiledlobsterclawsfromconstantdippingintheindelibleredofmydyes，therewalkedin，unexpectedly，apersonwhosefeaturesstraightwayseemedfamiliar。Iwasright，itwastheveryman，thechiefinspectorwhosespeechhadoncestirredme。M。Duruywasnowministerofpublicinstruction。Hewasstyled，’Yourexcellency;’andthisstyle，usuallyanemptyformula，waswelldeservedinthepresentcase，forournewministerexcelledinhisexaltedfunctions。Weallheldhiminhighesteem。Hewastheworkers’minister，themanforthehumbletoiler。
’Iwanttospendmylasthalf—houratAvignonwithyou，’saidmyvisitor，withasmile。’Thatwillbearelieffromtheofficialbowingandscraping。’
Overcomebythehonorpaidme，Iapologizedformycostume——Iwasinmyshirtsleeves——andespeciallyformylobsterclaws，whichI
hadtried，foramoment，tohidebehindmyback。
’Youhavenothingtoapologizefor。Icametoseetheworker。Theworkingmanneverlooksbetterthaninhisoverall，withthemarksofhistradeonhim。Letushaveatalk。Whatareyoudoingjustnow？’
Iexplained，inafewwords，theobjectofmyresearches;Ishowedmyproduct;Iexecutedundertheminister’seyesalittleattemptatprintinginmadderred。Thesuccessoftheexperimentandthesimplicityofmyapparatus，inwhichanevaporatingdish，maintainedatboilingpointunderaglassfunnel，tooktheplaceofasteamchamber，causedhimsomesurprise。
’Iwillhelpyou，’hesaid。’Whatdoyouwantforyourlaboratory？
’
’Why，nothing，monsieurleministre，nothing！Withalittleapplication，theplantIhaveisample。’
’What，nothing！Youareuniquethere！Theothersoverwhelmmewithrequests;theirlaboratoriesareneverwellenoughsupplied。Andyou，poorasyouare，refusemyoffers！’
’No，thereisonethingwhichIwillaccept。’
’Whatisthat？’
’Thesignalhonorofshakingyoubythehand。’
’Thereyouare，myfriend，withallmyheart。Butthat’snotenough。Whatelsedoyouwant？’
’TheParisJardindesPlantesisunderyourcontrol。Shouldacrocodiledie，letthemkeepthehideforme。Iwillstuffitwithstrawandhangitfromtheceiling。Thusadorned，myworkshopwillrivalthewizard’scave。’
TheministercasthiseyesroundthenaveandglancedupattheGothicvault:’Yes，itwouldlookverywell。’Andhegavealaughatmysally。’Inowknowyouasachemist，’hecontinued。’Iknewyoualreadyasanaturalistandawriter。Ihaveheardaboutyourlittleanimals。IamsorrythatIshallhavetoleavewithoutseeingthem。Theymustwaitforanotheroccasion。Mytrainwillbestartingpresently。Walkwithmetothestation，willyou？Weshallbealoneandwecanchatabitmoreontheway。’
Westrolledalong，discussingentomologyandmadder。Myshynesshaddisappeared。Theselfsufficiencyofafoolwouldhaveleftmedumb;thefinefranknessofaloftymindputmeatmyease。Itoldhimofmyexperimentsinnaturalhistory，ofmyplansforaprofessorship，ofmyfightwithharshfate，myhopesandfears。Heencouragedme，spoketomeofabetterfuture。Wereachedthestationandwalkedupanddownoutside，talkingawaydelightfully。
Apooroldwomanpassed，allinrags，herbackbentbyageandyearsofworkinthefields。Shefurtivelyputoutherhandforalms。Duruyfeltinhiswaistcoat，foundatwofrancpieceandplaceditintheoutstretchedhand;Iwantedtoaddacoupleofsousasmycontribution，butmypocketswereempty，asusual。I
wenttothebeggarwomanandwhisperedinherear:’Doyouknowwhogaveyouthat？It’stheemperor’sminister。
Thepoorwomanstarted;andherastoundedeyeswanderedfromtheopen—handedswelltothepieceofsilverandfromthepieceofsilvertotheopen—handedswell。Whatasurprise！Whatawindfall！
’QueloubonDieuiedonelongovidoesanta，pecaire！’shesaid，inhercrackedvoice。
And，curtseyingandnodding，shewithdrew，stillstaringatthecoininthepalmofherhand。
’Whatdidshesay？’askedDuruy。
’Shewishedyoulonglifeandhealth。’
’Andpecaire？’
’Pecaireisapoeminitself:itsumsupallthegentlerpassions。’
AndImyselfmentallyrepeatedtheartlessvow。Themanwhostopssokindlywhenabeggarputsoutherhandhassomethingbetterinhissoulthanthemerequalitiesthatgotomakeaminister。
Weenteredthestation，stillalone，aspromised，andIquitewithoutmisgivings。HadIbutforeseenwhatwasgoingtohappen，howIshouldhavehastenedtotakemyleave！Littlebylittle，agroupformedinfrontofus。Itwastoolatetofly;Ihadtoscrewupmycourage。Camethegeneralofdivisionandhisofficers，cametheprefectandhissecretary，themayorandhisdeputy，theschoolinspectorandthepickofthestaff。Theministerfacedtheceremonialsemicircle。Istoodnexttohim。A
crowdononeside，wetwoontheother。Followedtheregulationspinalcontortions，theemptyobeisanceswhichmydearDuruyhadcometomylaboratorytoforget。WhenbowingtoSt。Roch，inhiscornerniche，theworshipperatthesametimesalutesthesaint’shumblecompanion。IwassomethinglikeSt。Roch’sdoginthepresenceofthosehonorswhichdidnotconcernme。Istoodandlookedon，withmyawfulredhandsconcealedbehindmyback，underthebroadbrimofmyfelthat。
Aftertheofficialcomplimentshadbeenexchanged，theconversationbegantolanguish;andtheministerseizedmyrighthandandgentlydrewitfromthemysteriousrecessesofmywideawake。
’Whydon’tyoushowthosegentlemenyourhands？’hesaid。’Mostpeoplewouldbeproudofthem。’
’Workman’shands，’saidtheprefect’ssecretary。’Regularworkman’shands。’
Thegeneral，almostscandalizedatseeingmeinsuchdistinguishedcompany，added:’Handsofadyerandcleaner。’
’Yes，workman’shands，’retortedtheminister，’andIwishyoumanylikethem。Believeme，theywilldomuchtohelpthechiefindustryofyourcity。Skilledastheyareinchemicalwork，theyareequallycapableofwieldingthepen，thepencil，thescalpelandthelens。Asyouhereseemunawareofit，Iamdelightedtoinformyou。’
Thistime，Ishouldhavelikedthegroundtoopenandswallowmeup。Fortunately，thebellrangforthetraintostart。Isaidgoodbyetotheministerand，hurriedlytakingtoflight，lefthimlaughingatthetrickwhichhehadplayedme。
Theincidentwasnoisedabout，couldnothelpbeingso，fortheperistyleofarailwaystationkeepsnosecrets。Ithenlearnedtowhatannoyancestheshadowofthegreatexposesus。Iwaslookeduponasaninfluentialperson，havingthefavorofthegodsatmydisposal。Placehuntersandcanvasserstormentedme。Onewantedalicensetoselltobaccoandstamps，anotherascholarshipforhisson，anotheranincreaseofhispension。IhadonlytoaskandI
shouldobtain，saidthey。
Osimplepeople，whatanillusionwasyours！Youcouldnothavehituponaworseintermediary。Ifiguringasapostulant！Ihavemanyfaults，Iadmit，butthatiscertainlynotoneofthem。IgotridoftheimportunatepeopleasbestIcould，thoughtheywereutterlyunabletofathommyreserve。Whatwouldtheyhavesaidhadtheyknownoftheminister’sofferswithregardtomylaboratoryandmyjestingreply，inwhichIaskedforacrocodileskintohangfrommyceiling！Theywouldhavetakenmeforanidiot。
Sixmonthselapsed;andIreceivedalettersummoningmetocallupontheministerathisoffice。IsuspectedaproposaltopromotemetoamoreimportantgrammarschoolandwrotebeggingthatI
mightbeleftwhereIwas，amongmyvatsandmyinsects。Asecondletterarrived，morepressingthanthefirstandsignedbytheminister’sownhand。Thislettersaid:’Comeatonce，orIshallsendmygendarmestofetchyou。’
Therewasnowayoutofit。Twenty—fourhourslater，IwasinM。
Duruy’sroom。Hewelcomedmewithexquisitecordiality，gavemehishandand，takingupanumberoftheMoniteur:’Readthat，’hesaid。’Yourefusedmychemicalapparatus;butyouwon’trefusethis。
Ilookedatthelinetowhichhisfingerpointed。IreadmynameinthelistoftheLegionofHonor。Quitestupidwithsurprise，I
stammeredthefirstwordsofthanksthatenteredmyhead。
’Comehere，’saidhe，’andletmegiveyoutheaccolade。Iwillbeyoursponsor。Youwillliketheceremonyallthebetterifitisheldinprivate，betweenyouandme:Iknowyou！’
Hepinnedtheredribbontomycoat，kissedmeonbothcheeks，mademetelegraphthegreateventtomyfamily。Whatamorning，spentwiththatgoodman！
Iwellknowthevanityofdecorativeribbonryandtinware，especiallywhen，astoooftenhappens，intriguedegradesthehonorconferred;but，comingasitdid，thatbitofribbonisprecioustome。Itisarelic，notanobjectforshow。Ikeepitreligiouslyinadrawer。
Therewasaparcelofbigbooksonthetab1eacollectionofthereportsontheprogressofsciencedrawnupfortheInternationalExhibitionof1867，whichhadjustclosed。
’Thosebooksareforyou，’continuedtheminister。’Takethemwithyou。Youcanlookthroughthematyourleisure:theymayinterestyou。Thereissomethingaboutyourinsectsinthem。You’retohavethistoo:itwillpayforyourjourney。ThetripwhichImadeyoutakemustnotbeatyourownexpense。Ifthereisanythingover，spenditonyourlaboratory。’
Andhehandedmearolloftwelvehundredfrancs。InvainI
refused，remarkingthatmyjourneywasnotsoburdensomeasallthat;besides，hisembraceandhisbitofribbonwereofinestimablevaluecomparedwithmydisbursements。Heinsisted:
’Takeit，’hesaid，’orIshallbeveryangry。There’ssomethingelse:youmustcometotheemperor’swithmetomorrow，tothereceptionofthelearnedsocieties。’
Seeingmegreatlyperplexedandasthoughdemoralizedbytheprospectofanimperialinterview:’Don’ttrytoescapeme，’hesaid，’orlookoutforthegendarmesofmyletter！Yousawthefellowsinthebearskincapsonyourwayup。Mindyoudon’tfallintotheirhands。Inanycase，lestyoushouldbetemptedtorunaway，wewillgototheTuileriestogether，inmycarriage。’
Thingshappenedashewished。Thenextday，intheminister’scompany，IwasusheredintoalittledrawingroomattheTuileriesbychamberlainsinkneebreechesandsilver—buckledshoes。Theywerequeerpeopletolookat。Theiruniformsandtheirstiffgaitgavethemtheappearance，inmyeyes，ofbeetleswho，bywayofwingcases，woreagreat，gold—laceddresscoat，withakeyinthesmalloftheback。Therewerealreadyascoreofpersonsfromallpartswaitingintheroom。Theseincludedgeographicalexplorers，botanists，geologists，antiquaries，archeologists，collectorsofprehistoricflints，inshort，theusualrepresentativesofprovincialscientificlife。
Theemperorentered，verysimplydressed，withnoparadeabouthimbeyondawide，red，wateredsilkribbonacrosshischest。Nosignofmajesty，anordinaryman，roundandplump，withalargemoustacheandapairofhalf—closed，drowsyeyelids。Hemovedfromonetotheother，talkingtoeachofusforamomentastheministermentionedournamesandthenatureofouroccupations。HeshowedafairamountofinformationashechangedhissubjectfromtheicefloesofSpitzbergentothedunesofGascony，fromaCarlovingianchartertothefloraoftheSahara，fromtheprogressinbeetrootgrowingtoCaesar’strenchesbeforeAlesia。Whenmyturncame，hequestionedmeuponthehypermetamorphosisoftheMeloidae[abeetlefamilyincludingtheoilbeetleandtheSpanishfly]，mylastessayinentomology。IansweredasbestIcould，flounderingalittleinthepropermodeofaddress，mixinguptheeverydaymonsieurwithsire，awordwhoseusewassoentirelynewtome。Ipassedthroughthedreadstraitsandotherssucceededme。
Myfiveminutes’conversationwithanimperialmajestywas，theytellme，amostdistinguishedhonor。Iamquitereadytobelievethem，butIneverhadadesiretorepeatit。
Thereceptioncametoanend，bowswereexchangedandweweredismissed。Aluncheonawaitedusattheminister’shouse。Isatonhisright，notalittleembarrassedbytheprivilege;onhisleftwasaphysiologistofgreatrenown。Liketheothers，Ispokeofallmannerofthings，includingevenAvignonBridge。Duruy’sson，sittingoppositeme，chaffedmepleasantlyaboutthefamousbridgeonwhicheverybodydances;hesmiledatmyimpatiencetogetbacktothethyme—scentedhillsandthegrayoliveyardsrichinGrasshoppers。
’What！’saidhisfather。’Won’tyouvisitourmuseums，ourcollections？Therearesomeveryinterestingthingsthere。’
’Iknow，monsieurleministre，butIshallfindbetterthings，thingsmoretomytaste，intheincomparablemuseumofthefields。’
’Thenwhatdoyouproposetodo？’
’Iproposetogobacktomorrow。
Ididgoback，IhadhadenoughofParis:neverhadIfeltsuchtorturesoflonelinessasinthatimmensewhirlofhumanity。Togetaway，togetawaywasmyoneidea。
Oncehomeamongmyfamily，Ifeltamightyloadoffmymindandagreatjoyinmyheart，whererangapealofbellsproclaimingthedelightsofmyapproachingemancipation。Littlebylittle，thefactorythatwastosetmefreeroseskywards，fullofpromises。
Yes，Ishouldpossessthemodestincomewhichwouldcrownmyambitionbyallowingmetodescantonanimalsandplantsinauniversitychair。
’Well，no，’saidFate，’youshallnotacquirethefreedman’speculium;youshallremainaslave，draggingyourchainbehindyou;
yourpealofbellsringsfalse！’
Hardlywasthefactoryinfullswingwhenapieceofnewswasbruited，atfirstavaguerumor，anechoofprobabilitiesratherthancertainties，andthenapositivestatementleavingnoroomfordoubt。Chemistryhadobtainedthemadderdyebyartificialmeans;
thankstoalaboratoryconcoction，itwasutterlyoverthrowingtheagricultureandindustriesofmydistrict。Thisresult，whiledestroyingmyworkandmyhopes，didnotsurprisemeunduly。I
myselfhadtoyedwiththeproblemofartificialalizarinandIknewenoughaboutittoforeseethat，innoverydistantfuture，theworkofthechemist’sretortwouldtaketheplaceoftheworkofthefields。
Itwasfinished;myhopesweredashedtotheground。Whattodonext？LetuschangeourleverandbegintorollSisyphus’stoneoncemore。Letustrytodrawfromtheinkpotwhatthemaddervatdeclinestoyield。Laboremus！