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！