Industrial Chemistry 



'Why, nothing, monsieur le ministre, no- 

 thing! With a little application, the plant I 

 have is ample.' 



'What, nothing! You are unique there! 

 The others overwhelm me with requests; their 

 laboratories are never well enough supplied. 

 And you, poor as you are, refuse my offers!' 



'No, there is one thing which I will ac- 

 cept.' 



'What is that?' 



'The signal honour of shaking you by the 

 hand.' 



'There you are, my friend, with all my 

 heart. But that's not enough. What else do 

 you want?' 



'The Paris Jardin des Plantes 1 is under 

 your control. Should a crocodile die, let them 

 keep the hide for me. I will stuff it with 

 straw and hang it from the ceiling. Thus 

 adorned, my workshop will rival the wizard's 

 cave.' 



The minister cast his eyes round the nave 

 and glanced up at the Gothic vault: 



'Yes, it would look very well.' And he 

 gave a laugh at my sally. 'I now know you 

 as a chemist,' he continued. 'I knew you al- 

 ready as a naturalist and a writer. I have 



'The Zoological and Botanical Gardens on the left bank 

 of the Seine. — Translator's Note. 



459 



