166 THE LIFE OF PASTEUR 



tests were being made on forced silkworms by the agricultural 

 society of Le Vigan. 



The house he came into was cold and badly arranged. M. 

 Gernez improvised a laboratory, with the assistance of Maillot 

 and Raulin, who had followed their master down. From his 

 sofa or from his bed, Pasteur directed certain experiments on 

 the forced specimens. M. Gernez writes: *'The operations, 

 of which we watched the phases through the microscope, fully 

 justified his anticipations; and he rejoiced that he had not 

 given up tlie game." In the world of the Institute his de- 

 parture was blamed by some and praised by others; but 

 Pasteur merely considered that one man's life is worthless if 

 not useful to others. 



Dumas wrote to him early in February: **My dear friend 

 and colleague, — I have been thinking of you so much! I 

 dread fatigue for you, and wish I could spare it you, whilst 

 hoping that you may successfully achieve your great and 

 patriotic undertaking. I have hesitated to write to you for 

 fear you should feel obliged to answer. However, I should 

 like to have direct news of you, as detailed as possible, and, 

 besides that, I should be much obliged if you could send me a 

 line to enlighten me on the two following points — 



*'l. When are you going back to Alais? And when will 

 your Alais broods be near enough to their time to be most 

 interesting to visit? 



*'2. "What should I say to people who beg for healthy seed 

 as if my pockets were full of it? I tell them it is too late; 

 but if you could tell me a means of satisfying them, I should 

 be pleased, particularly in the case of General Randon and 

 M. Husson. The Marshal (Vaillant) is full of solicitude for 

 you, and we never meet but our whole conversation turns upon 

 you. With me, it is natural. With him less so, perhaps, but 

 anyhow, he thinks of you as much as is possible, and this gives 

 me a great deal of pleasure. . . . Please present to Madame 

 Pasteur our united compliments and wishes. We wish the 

 South could have the virtues of Achilles' lance — of healing the 

 wounds it has caused. — ^Yours affectionately." 



Pasteur was reduced to complete helplessness through hav- 

 ing slipped and fallen on the stone floor of his uncomfortable 

 house, and was obliged to dictate the following letter — 



^'My dear master, — I thank you for thinking of the poor 

 invalid. I am very much in the same condition as when I 



