DECISIVE HOURS 21 



folios of his invaluable discoveries were to be on exhibi- 

 tion. 



Audubon, as an art student, obtained permission to see 

 the folios of the great savant, and he took the Knitter 

 with him. He loved her because she had prophesied good 

 of him. 



The two passed along the gay streets and into the halls 

 made renowned by Cuvier. They entered the exhibition 

 room where the priceless books lay under guard. 



After they had seen them they sat down together on a 

 seat apart from those allotted to the members of the Acad- 

 emy, and waited for the great Humboldt to arrive. 



" He used to be a feeble boy," said the Knitter, " and 

 they did not regard him as very bright; but he loved plants, 

 and they called him the ' little apothecary.' He associates 

 with kings now." 



" But he lived for his cosmology," said Audubon. " He 

 never thought of associating with kings in his early studies. 

 He exiled himself for the true knowledge of science." 



The members were coming in, many of them wearing 

 decorations. 



At last the hall rang with sudden applause. Humboldt 

 appeared, and on his heart shone a golden star that had 

 been given him by the Russian court. He wore the decora- 

 tions of greatest royal societies. 



How grand he looked — that wonderful man who had 

 trod the summits of the Andes, sailed the unknown rivers 



