Larval Dimorphism 



speak in the past tense, for doubtless the 

 present day has seen the last of this academic 

 destitution. 



Here is the tobacco-shop where, on Wed- 

 nesday evening, coming out of the college, I 

 would buy on credit the wherewithal to fill my 

 pipe and thus to celebrate on the eve the joys 

 of the morrow, that blessed Thursday^ which 

 I considered so well-employed in solving hard 

 equations, experimenting with new chemical 

 reagents, collecting and identifying my plants. 

 I would make my timid request, pretending 

 to have come out without my money, for it is 

 hard for a self-respecting man to admit that 

 he is penniless. My candour appears to have 

 inspired some little confidence; and I obtained 

 credit, an unprecedented thing, with the repre- 

 sentative of the revenue.^ Ah, why did not I 

 open a shop and expose for sale some packets 

 of candles, a dozen dried cod, a barrel of sar- 

 dines and a few cakes of soap ! I am no more 

 of a fool nor any less industrious than an- 

 other; and I should have made my way. But, 



^Thursday is the weekly half-holiday in the French 

 schools. — Translator's Note. 



'The government in France has the sole control of the 

 tobacco-trade, which forms an important branch of the 

 inland revenue. — Translator's Note. 



83 



