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inherited this from his mother； a rebellious； crotchety； somewhat fantastic
person； by whose temper he himself had suffered。
But the young people who surrounded him were far from being upset by these
contrasts of temperament； in which they themselves saw nothing but natural
annoyance； and the corollary； as it were； of his abounding vitality。
（4/19。）
It was because he was the only university teacher in Avignon to occupy
himself with entomology that Pasteur visited him in 1865。 The illustrious
chemist had been striving to check the plague that was devastating the
silkworm nurseries； and as he knew nothing of the subject which he proposed
to study； not even understanding the constitution of the cocoon or the
evolution of the silkworm； he sought out Fabre in order to obtain from his
store of entomological wisdom the elementary ideas which he would find
indispensable。 Fabre has told us； in a moving page （4/20）； with what a
total lack of comprehension of 〃poverty in a black coat〃 the great
scientist gazed at his poor home。 Preoccupied by another problem； that of
the amelioration of wines by means of heat； Pasteur asked him point…blank
him； the humble proletarian of the university caste； who drank only the
cheapest wine of the countryto show him his cellar。 〃My cellar！ Why not
my vaults； my dusty bottles； labelled according to age and vintage！ But
Pasteur insisted。 Then； pointing with my finger； I showed him； in a corner
of the kitchen； a chair with all the straw gone； and on this chair a two…
gallon demijohn： 'There is my cave； monsieur！'〃
If the country professor was embarrassed by the chilliness of the other； he
was none the less shocked by his attitude。 It would seem； from what Fabre
has said； that Pasteur treated him with a hauteur which was slightly
disdainful。 The ignorant genius questioned his humble colleague； distantly
giving him his orders； explaining his plans and his ideas； and informing
him in what directions he required assistance。
After this； we cannot be surprised if the naturalist was silent。 How could
sympathetic relations have survived this first meeting？ Fabre could not
forgive it。 His own character was too independent to accommodate itself to
Pasteur's。 Yet never； perhaps； were two men made for a better
understanding。 They were equally expert in exercising their admirable
powers of vision in the vast field of nature； equally critical of self；
equally careful never to depart from the strict limits of the facts； and
they were； one may say； equally eminent in the domain of invention；
different though their fortunes may have been； for the sublimity of
scientific discoveries； however full of genius they may be； is often
measured only by the immediate consequences drawn therefrom and the
practical importance of their results。
In reality； were they not two rivals； worthy of being placed side by side
in the paradise of sages？ Both of them； the one by demolishing the theory
of spontaneous generation； the other by refuting the mechanical theory of
the origin of instincts； have brought into due prominence the great unknown
and mysterious forces which seem destined to hold eternally in suspense the
profound enigma of life。
Now he was anxious not to leave the Vaucluse district； the scene of his
first success； and a place so fruitful in subjects of study。 He wished to
remain close to his insects； and also near the precious library and the
rich collections which Requien had left by will to the town of Avignon。 In
spite of the meagreness of his salary； he asked for nothing more； and； what
is more； by an inconsequence which is by no means incomprehensible； he
avoided everything that might have resulted in a more profitable position
elsewhere； and evaded all proposals of further promotion。 Twice； at
Poitiers and Marseilles； he refused a post as assistant professor； not
regarding the advantages sufficient to balance the expenses of removal。
（4/21。）
It is true that his modest position was slightly improved； at the lycée he
had just been appointed drawing…master； thanks to his knowledge of design；
for he could drawindeed； what could he not do？ The city； on the other
hand； appointed him conservator of the Requien Museum； and presently
municipal lecturer； so that his earnings were increased by 48 pounds
sterling per annum； and he was at last able to abandon 〃those abominable
private lessons〃 （4/22。）； which the insufficiency of his income had
hitherto forced him to accept。 These new duties； which naturally demanded
much time and much labour； kept him almost as badly tied as he had been
before。
To be rich enough to set himself free； to be master of all his time； to be
able to devote himself entirely to his chosen work： this was his dream； his
constant preoccupation： it haunted him； it was a fixed idea。
Such was the principal motive of his inquiry into the properties of madder；
the colouring principle of which he succeeded in extracting directly； by a
perfectly simple method； which for a time very advantageously replaced the
extremely primitive methods of the old dyers； who used a simple extract of
madder； a crude preparation which necessitated long and expensive
manipulations。 （4/23。）
He had been working at this for eight years when Victor Duruy； Minister of
Public Instruction and Grand Master of the University； came to surprise him
in his laboratory at Saint…Martial； in the full fever of research。 Whatever
was Duruy's idea in entering into relations with him； it seems that from
their first meeting the two men were really taken with one another： there
were； between them； so many close affinities of taste and character。 Duruy
found in Fabre a man of his own temper； for his； like Fabre's； was a modest
and simple nature。 Both came of the people； and the principal motive of
each was the same ideal of work； emancipation； and progress。
A little later Duruy summoned the modest sage of Avignon to Paris； with
particular insistence； he was full of attentions and of forethought； and
made him there and then a chevalier of the Legion of Honour； a distinction
of which Fabre was far from being proud； and which he was careful never to
obtrude； but he nevertheless always thought of it with a certain
tenderness； as a beloved 〃relic〃 in memory of this illustrious friend。
On the following day the naturalist was conveyed to the Tuileries to be
presented to the Emperor。 You must not suppose that he was in the least
disturbed at the idea of finding himself face to face with royalty。 In the
presence of all these bedizened folk； in his coat of a cut which was
doubtless already superannuated； he cared little for the impression he
might produce。 As good an observer of men as of beasts； he gazed quietly
about him； he exchanged a few words with the Emperor； who was 〃quite
simple；〃 almost suppressed； his eyes always half…closed； he watched the
coming and going of 〃the chamberlains with short breeches and silver…
buckled sh