Chapter viii 



THE LANGUEDOCIAN SPHEX 



When the chemist has fully prepared his plan 

 of research, he mixes his reagent at the most 

 convenient moment and lights a flame under 

 his retort. He is the master of time, place 

 and circumstances. He chooses his hour, shuts 

 himself up in his laboratory, where nothing 

 can come to disturb the business in hand ; he 

 produces at will this or that condition which 

 reflection suggests to him : he is in quest of 

 the secrets of inorganic matter, whose chemical 

 activities science can awaken whenever it 

 thinks fit. 



The secrets of living matter — not those of 

 anatomical structure, but really those of life 

 in action, especially of instinct — present much 

 more difficult and delicate conditions to the 

 observer. Far from being able to choose his 

 own time, he is the slave of the season, of the 

 day, of the hour, of the very moment. When 

 the opportunity offers, he must seize it as it 

 comes, without hesitation, for it may be long 



