THE LAST DAYS 209 



1st a mystic. After having hungered for glory 

 he placed higher than all else the desire to be 

 useful. And the glance of his blue eyes, ordi- 

 narily cold and keen, seeming to penetrate one's 

 most secret thoughts, this glance, always on 

 guard, always ironic, took on an expression of 

 affectionate veneration for him whom he called 

 "our dear and great Pasteur." It is only those 

 who are accustomed to tend the sick can know 

 how much pleasure certain visits give them. 

 That of Alexandre Dumas Pasteur compared 

 to a ray of sunshine. (Vie de Pasteur.) 



The illustrious old man still had a few more 

 happy hours before him; but, although he was 

 removed to Villeneuve-FEtang, the change to 

 the country brought no improvement to his 

 condition, which had now become hopeless. 



Pasteur resigned himself to die, and neverthe- 

 less he took great care to hide his sufferings, in 

 order to spare the feelings of his family and his 

 disciples. He was not, however, always master 

 of his own emotions. Happening, one evening, 

 to be alone with his grandchildren, the son and 



