PIERRE EUGENE MARCELLIN BERTHELOT 105 



the middle of last century. Monsieur Breguet was a 

 constructeur industriel, or builder of factories. He lived 

 near the Place de I'Hotel-de-Ville, on the Quai de 

 1'Horloge, and the families were acquainted from early 

 days. Mademoiselle was a desirable partie, well-dowered, 

 and of great beauty, which she retained up to the end of 

 her life. She was placid in manner, with lovely eyes, and 

 a brilliant complexion, rendered even more striking, when, 

 at an advanced age, her hair was silver ; and in the church 

 of Saint-Etienne du Mont there is a picture of Sainte- 

 Helene, the lovely face of which is taken from a portrait 

 of Madame Berthelot as a girl. The meeting of the young 

 couple was somewhat romantic : Mademoiselle Breguet, 

 no doubt, must have appeared to Marcellin to be beyond 

 his reach, and besides, his attention was otherwise occupied. 

 But one day, on the Pont Neuf, Mademoiselle was crossing 

 the longest bridge in Paris in the face of a strong wind, 

 wearing a charming Tuscan hat, then the mode. Behind 

 her walked her future husband ; suddenly she turned 

 round, to avoid having her hat blown off, and practically 

 ran into his arms. If not exactly love at first sight, it 

 was a case of love at first touch. Their married life was 

 of the happiest ; indeed, it may be said that they were in 

 love with each other till the end. One of the sons 

 wrote: ' Mon pere et ma mere s'adoraient; jamais le 

 rnoindre nuage n'avait trouble leur bonheur. Us s'etaient 

 compris des le premier jour. Us etaient si bien faits pour 

 se completer ! Bien que tres lettree et fort intelligente, 

 maman s'etait toujours effacee devant son mari, se bornant 

 a s'efforcer de le rendre parfaitement heureux. C'etait, 

 a son avis, la seule fa9on de collaborer a son ceuvre.' 

 Another intimate friend added: 'Monsieur et Madame 

 Berthelot s'adoraient; tous deux etaient de la nature 

 d'elites ; sa compagne n'avait cesse de Fencourager et de 

 le soutenir.' No one visiting their house could fail to 



