Industrial Chemistry 



me his hand and, taking up a number of the 

 Moniteur: 



'Read that,' he said. 'You refused my 

 chemical apparatus; but you won't refuse 

 this.' 



I looked at the line to which his finger 

 pointed. I read my name In the list of the 

 Legion of Honour. Quite stupid with sur- 

 prise, I stammered the first words of thanks 

 that entered my head. 



'Come here,' said he, 'and let me give you 

 the accolade. I will be your sponsor. You 

 will like the ceremony all the better if it is 

 held in private, between you and me: I know 

 you !' 



He pinned the red ribbon to my coat, 

 kissed me on both cheeks, made me telegraph 

 the great event to my family. What a morn- 

 ing, spent with that good man ! 



I well know the vanity of decorative rib- 

 bonry and tinware, especially when, as too 

 often happens, intrigue degrades the honour 

 conferred; but, coming as it did, that bit of 

 ribbon is precious to me. It is a relic, not an 

 object for show. I keep it religiously in a 

 drawer. 



There was a parcel of big books on the 

 table, a collection of the reports on the pro- 



465 



