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was obliged to supplement it by all sorts of hack…workclasses；
〃repetitions；〃 private lessons； tasks which repelled him； for they absorbed
all his available time； they prevented him from giving himself up to his
favourite studies； to his silent and solitary observations。 Nevertheless；
he acquitted himself of these duties patiently and conscientiously； for at
heart he loved his profession； and was rather a fellow…disciple than a
master to his pupils。 For this reason all those about him worked with
praiseworthy assiduity； even the worst elements； the black sheep； the 〃bad
eggs〃 of other classes； with him were suddenly transformed and as attentive
as the rest。 Although he knew how to keep order； how to make himself
respected； and could on occasion deal severely and speak sternly； so that
very few dared to forget themselves before him； he knew also how to be
merry with his pupils； chatting with them familiarly； putting himself in
their place； entering into their ideas； and making himself their rival。 If
life was laborious under his ferula； it was also merry。 The best proof of
this is the fact that of all his colleagues at the lycée he was the only
one who had no nickname； a rarity in scholastic annals。
He did not therefore object to these lessons； but while at Carpentras he
was made much of and praised by the principal； was a general favourite； and
had perfect liberty to follow his inspiration during his partly gratuitous
classes； here the hours and the programme tied him down； which was
precisely what he found insupportable。
Everything made things difficult for him here： his external self； his
character； ever so little shy and unsocial； his temperament； which was made
for solitude。
In the thick of this hierarchical society of university professors he
remained independent； he knew nothing of what was said or what was
happening in the college； and his colleagues were always better informed
than he。 （4/6。） As he was not a fellow； he was made to feel the fact and
was treated as a subordinate； the others； who prided themselves on the
title； and who were incapable of recognizing his merit； which was a little
beyond them； were jealous of him； all the more inasmuch as his name was
momentarily noised abroad； and they revenged themselves by calling him 〃the
fly〃 among themselves； by way of allusion to his favourite subject。 （4/7。）
Indifferent to distinctions； as well as to those who bore them；
contemptuous of etiquette； and incapable of putting constraint upon his
nature； he remained an 〃outsider；〃 and refused to comply with a host of
factitious or worldly obligations which he regarded as useless or
disgusting。 Thus even at Ajaccio he managed to escape the customary
ceremonies of New Year's Day。
〃Good society I avoid as much as possible； I prefer my own company。 So I
have seen no one； I did not respond to the principal's invitation to make
the official round of visits。〃 （4/8。）
When obliged to accept some invitation； apart from occasions of too great
solemnity； when he was really constrained to dress himself in the complete
livery of circumstance and ceremony； he remained faithful to his black felt
hat； which made a blot among all the carefully polished 〃toppers〃 of his
colleagues。 He was called to order； he was reprimanded； he obeyed
unwillingly； or worse； he resisted； he revolted； and threatened to send in
his resignation。 To pay court to people； to endeavour to make himself
pleasant； to grovel before a superior； were to him impossibilities。 He
could neither solicit； nor sail with the wind； nor force himself on others；
nor even make use of his relations。
However； when he went to Paris to take his doctor's degree in natural
sciences； he did not forget Moquin…Tandon； who had formerly； in Corsica；
revealed to him the nature of biology； and whom he himself had received and
entertained in his humble home。
The ex…professor of Toulouse； who was now eminent in his speciality；
occupied the chair of natural history in the faculty of medicine in Paris。
What better occasion could he wish of introducing himself to a highly
placed official？ Fabre had formerly been his host； he could recall the
happy hours they had spent together； he could explain his plans； and ask
for the professor's assistance！ Fate pointed to him as a protector。 But if
Fabre had been capable of climbing the professor's stairs with some such
ambitious desires； he would quickly have been disabused。
The 〃dear master〃 had long ago forgotten the little professor of Ajaccio；
and his welcome was by no means such as Fabre had the right to expect。 Far
from insisting； he was disheartened； perhaps a little humiliated； and
hastened to take his leave。
The theses which Fabre brought with him； and which； he had thought； ought
to lead him one day to a university professorship； did not； as a matter of
fact； contain anything very essentially original。
He had been attracted； indeed fascinated； by all the singularities
presented by the strange family of the orchids； the asymmetry of their
blossoms； the unusual structure of their pollen； and their innumerable
seeds； but as for the curious rounded and duplicated tubercles which many
of them bore at their base； what precisely were they？ The greatest
botanistsde Candolle； A。 de Jussieuhad perceived in them nothing more
than roots。 Fabre demonstrated in his thesis that these singular organs are
in reality merely buds； true branches or shoots； modified and disguised；
analogous to the metamorphosed tubercle of the potato。 （4/9。）
He added also a curious memoir on the phosphorescence of the agaric of the
olive…tree； a phenomenon to which he was to return at a later date。
In the field of zoology his scalpel revealed the complicated structure of
the reproductive organs of the Centipedes （Millepedes）； hitherto so
confused and misunderstood； as also certain peculiarities of the
development of these curious creatures； so interesting from the point of
view of the zoological philosopher （4/10。）； for he had become expert in
handling not only the magnifying glass； which was always with him； but also
the microscope； which discovers so many infinite wonders in the lowest
creatures； yet which was not of particular service in any of the beautiful
observations upon which his fame is built。
Returning to Avignon； in the possession of his new degree； he commenced an
important task which took him nearly twenty years to complete： a
painstaking treatise on the Sphaeriaceae of Vaucluse； that singular family
of fungi which cover fallen leaves and dead twigs with their blackish
fructifications； a remarkable piece of work； full of the most valuable
documentation； as were the theses whose subjects I have just detailed； but
without belittling the fame of their author； one may say that another； in
his place； might have acquitted himself as well。
Although he continued to undertake researches of limited interest and
importance； althou