The Life of Jean Henri Fabre 



especially for my lobster-claws, which I had tried, 

 for a moment, to hide behind my back. 



" You have nothing to apologise for. I came to 

 see the worker. The working-man never looks 

 better than in his overall, with the marks of his 

 trade on him. Let us have a talk. What are you 

 doing just now? " 



I explained, in a few words, the object of my 

 researches; I showed my product; I executed un- 

 der the minister's eyes a little attempt at printing 

 in madder-red. The success of the experiment and 

 the simplicity of my apparatus, in which an evap- 

 orating dish, maintained at boiling-point under a 

 glass funnel, took the place of a steam-chamber, 

 caused him some surprise. 



*' I will help you," he said. " What do you 

 want for your laboratory?" 



" Why, nothing. Monsieur le Ministre, noth- 

 ing! With a little application, the plant I have 

 is ample." 



"What, nothing! You are unique there! The 

 others overwhelm me with requests; their labora- 

 tories are never well enough supplied. And you, 

 poor as you are, refuse my offers! " 



" No, there is one thing which I will accept." 



"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 is under your 

 172 



