20 THE LIFE OF PASTEUR 



year for both schools," Pasteur wrote to his friend (January 

 22, 1842). " I do not know whether I am right in deciding to 

 do so. One thing tells me that I am wrong : it is the idea 

 that we might thus be parted; and when I think of that, I 

 firmly believe that I cannot possibly be admitted this year into 

 the Ecole Polytechnique. I feel quite superstitious about it. 

 I have but one pleasure, your letters and those from my family. 

 Oh ! do write often, very long letters ! " 



Chappuis, concerned at this sudden resolve, answered in 

 terms that did credit to his heart and youthful wisdom. 

 " Consult your tastes, think of the present, of the future. 

 You must think of yourself ; it is your own fate that you have 

 to direct. There is more glitter on the one side ; on the other 

 the gentle quiet life of a professor, a trifle monotonous perhaps, 

 but full of charm for him who knows how to enjoy it. You too 

 appreciated it formerly, and I learned to do so when we thought 

 we should both go the same way. Anyhow, go where you 

 think you will be happy, and think of me sometimes. I hope 

 your father will not blame me. I believe he looks upon me as 

 your evil genius. These last holidays I wanted you to come to 

 me, then I advised you to go to Paris; each time your father 

 created some obstacle! But do what he wishes, and never 

 forget that it is perhaps because he loves you too much that he 

 never does what you ask him." 



Pasteur soon thought no more of his Polytechnic fancy, 

 and gave himself up altogether to his preparation for the 

 Ecole Normale. But the study of mathematics seemed to him 

 dry and exhausting. He wrote in April, " One ends by having 

 nothing but figures, formulas and geometrical forms before 

 one's eyes. . . . On Thursday I went out and I read a charm- 

 ing story, which, much to my astonishment, made me weep. 

 I had not done such a thing for years. Such is life." 



On August 13, 1842, he went up for his examination 

 (baccalaureat es sciences) before the Dijon Faculty. He 

 passed less brilliantly even than he had done for the 

 baccalaureat es lettres. In chemistry he was only put down 

 as " mediocre." On August 26 he was declared admissible to 

 the examinations for the Ecole Normale. But he was only 

 fifteenth out of twenty-two candidates. He considered this 

 too low a place, and resolved to try again the following year. 

 In October, 1842, he started for Paris with Chappuis. On the ' 

 eve of his departure Louis drew a last pastel, a portrait of his 



