158 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xi 



on its accustomed scale of magnificence, but I don't mind letting 

 you know I am in the flesh and safe back. 



The tour round Mont Blanc was a decided success ; in fact, 

 I had only to regret you were not with me. The grand glacier 

 of the Allee Blanche and the view of Mont Blanc from the 

 valley of Aosta were alone worth all the trouble. I had only 

 one wet day, and that I spent on the Brenon Glacier; for, in 

 spite of all good resolutions to the contrary, I cannot resist 

 poking into the glaciers whenever I have a chance. You will 

 be interested in my results, which we shall soon, I hope, talk on 

 together at length. 



As I suspected, Forbes has made a most egregious blunder. 

 What he speaks of and figures as the " structure " of the Brenon 

 is nothing but a peculiar arrangement of entirely superficial dirt 

 bands, dependent on the structure, but not it. The true structure 

 is singularly beautiful and well marked in the Brerjon, the blue 

 veins being very close set, and of course wholly invisible from 

 a distance of a hundred yards, which is less than that of the 

 spot whence Forbes' view of the (supposed) structure is taken. 



I saw another wonderful thing in La Brenon. About the 

 middle of its length there is a step like this of about 20 or 30 

 feet in height. In the lower part (B) the structural planes are 

 vertical; in the upper (A) they dip at a considerable angle. I 

 thought I had found a case of unconformability, indicating a 

 slip of one portion of the glacier over another, but when I came 

 to examine the intermediate region (X) carefully, I found the 

 structural planes at every intermediate angle, and consequently 

 a perfect transition from the one to the other. 



I returned by Aosta, the great St. Bernard, and the Col de 

 Balme. Old Simond was quite affectionate in his discourse 

 about you, and seemed quite unhappy because you would not 

 borrow his money. He had received your remittance, and asked 

 me to tell you so. He was distressed at having forgotten to get 

 a certificate from you, so I said in mine I was quite sure you 

 were well satisfied with him. 



On our journey he displayed his characteristic qualities, 

 Je ne sais pas being the usual answer to any topographical in- 

 quiries with a total absence of nerve, and a general conviction 

 that distances were very great and that the weather would be 

 bad. However, we got on very well, and I was sorry to part 

 with him. 



I came home by way of Neuchatel, paying a visit to the 

 Pierre a Bot, which I have long wished to see. My financial 



