The Hermit of Serlgnan 



to have been modified as profoundly as those of 

 his geographical habitat; they became perhaps even 

 further removed from those of his origin and his 

 forebears. We know what his paternal ancestors 

 were, and that they had no intimate knowledge 

 of the insect world. His mother's people were 

 equally regardless of and devoid of affection for 

 the little creatures that so absorbed and delighted 

 him.^ 



I did not know my maternal grandfather. This 

 venerable ancestor was, I have been told, a process- 

 server in one of the poorest parishes of the 

 Rouergue.2 He used to engross on stamped paper 

 in a primitive spelling. With his well-filled pen- 

 case and ink-horn, he went drawing out deeds up 

 hill and down dale, from one insolvent wretch to 

 another more insolvent still. Amid his atmosphere 

 of pottifoggery, this rudimentary scholar, waging 

 battle on life's acerbities, certainly paid no atten- 

 tion to the insect; at most, if he met it, he would 

 crush it under foot. The unknown animal, sus- 

 pected of evil-doing, deserved no further inquiry. 

 Grandmother, on her side, apart from her house- 

 keeping and her beads, knew still less about any- 

 thing. She looked on the alphabet as a set of 

 hieroglyphics only fit to spoil your sight for noth- 

 ing, unless you were scribbling on paper bearing 



1 Souvenirs, vi., pp. 26-37, 42- The Life of the Fly, 

 chap, v., "Heredity." 



2 A district of the province of Guienne, having Rodez 

 for its capital. The author's maternal grandfather, 

 Salgues bv name, was the huissier, or, as we should say, 

 sheriff's officer, of Saint-Leons.— A. T. de M. 



227 



