132 LIFE OF ELIE METCHNIKOFF 



important scientific part, and, finding ourselves within 

 easy reach of Paris, we repaired thither, without the 

 slightest idea of settling there. This is how Metchni- 

 koff himself described his first interview with Pasteur : 



On arriving at the laboratory destined for the antirabic 

 vaccinations, I saw an old man, rather undersized, with a 

 left hemiplegia, very piercing grey eyes, a short beard 

 and moustache and slightly grey hair, covered by a black 

 skull-cap. His pale and sickly complexion and tired look 

 betokened a man who was not likely to Uve many more years. 

 He received me very kindly, and immediately spoke to me of 

 the question which interested me most, the struggle of the 

 organism against microbes. 



" I at once placed myself on your side," he told me, " for I 

 have for many years been struck by the struggle between 

 the divers micro-organisms which I have had occasion to 

 observe. I believe you are on the right road." 



Pasteur at that time was chiefly occupied with 

 antirabic vaccinations and with the building of a 

 new Institute in the rue Dutot. Seeing the vast 

 dimensions of the edifice and learning that the 

 scientific stafi was not large, Metchnikoff asked 

 Pasteur if he might hope to work in one of the labora- 

 tories in an honorary capacity. Pasteur not only 

 acceded to this request but offered him a whole 

 laboratory. He was most kind, invited us to his 

 home and introduced Metchnikoff to his collaborators, 

 who produced an excellent impression on my husband. 



Though all this made him incline more and more 

 towards the Pasteur Institute, he still dreaded life 

 in a large and noisy city, thinking that a peaceful 

 little University town would be more favourable to 

 his work. Therefore, before making a final decision, 

 he desired to visit a few more bacteriological labora- 

 tories. 



