36 LOUIS PASTEUR 



productions which have been very well received, espe- 

 cially the last. A very favorable report which I have 

 the honor to send to you with this letter was made on 

 this work. 



Such, Monsieur, is my present position. As to the 

 future, all that I can say is that unless my tastes com- 

 pletely change, I shall devote myself to researches in 

 chemistry. I have the ambition to return to Paris when 

 my scientific contributions shall have brought me some 

 reputation. M. Biot has spoken to me several times 

 about thinking seriously of the Institute. Within ten 

 or fifteen years, perhaps, I may think of it if I continue 

 to work assiduously. This is no more than a dream. It 

 is not this that makes me love science for science's sake. 



My father will come in person to Strasbourg to make 

 this proposal of marriage. Accept, Monsieur, the assur- 

 ance of my profound respect and devotion. 



I was twenty-six years old on the 27th of last De- 

 cember. 



Somewhat more cautious than Pasteur, Laurent 

 deferred for a few weeks his reply to this request. 

 At last, a favorable answer came. The marriage 

 took place on May 29th, 1849. Like that of Pas- 

 teur's father and mother, it proved a happy one. 

 "All the qualities I could desire in a wife," Pasteur 

 writes to Chappuis, "I find in her. . . . But I do 



