CHAPTER VIII 



THE LANGUEDOCIAN SPHEX 



WHEN the chemist has fully prepared his 

 plan of research, he mixes his reagent 

 at the most convenient moment and lights a 

 flame under his retort. He is the master of 

 time, place and circumstances. He chooses 

 his hour, shuts himself up in his laboratory, 

 where nothing can come to disturb the busi- 

 ness in hand; he produces at will this or that 

 condition which reflection suggests to him : he 

 is in quest of the secrets of inorganic matter, 

 whose chemical activities science can awaken 

 whenever it thinks fit. 



The secrets of living matter — not those 

 of anatomical structure, but really those of 

 life in action, especially of instinct — present 

 much more difiicult and delicate conditions to 

 the observer. Far from being able to choose 

 his own time, he is the slave of the season, 

 of the day, of the hour, of the very moment. 

 When the opportunity offers, he must seize it 

 as it comes, without hesitation, for it may be 

 long before it presents itself again. And, as 

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