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help her。 Balthazar； sunk for a moment in contemplation of the olive…
tinted head； which attracted and satisfied the eye as it stood out in
relief against the soft gray background； rose to take his wife in his
arms and carry her to her sofa。 This was what she wanted。
〃You promised me；〃 she said； taking his hand which she held between
her own magnetic palms； 〃to tell me the secret of your researches。
Admit； dear friend； that I am worthy to know it； since I have had the
courage to study a science condemned by the Church that I might be
able to understand you。 I am curious； hide nothing from me。 Tell me
first how it happened； that you rose one morning anxious and
oppressed； when over night I had left you happy。〃
〃Is it to hear me talk of chemistry that you have made yourself so
coquettishly delightful？〃
〃Dear friend； a confidence which puts me in your inner heart is the
greatest of all pleasures for me； is it not a communion of souls which
gives birth to the highest happiness of earth？ Your love comes back to
me not lessened； pure； I long to know what dream has had the power to
keep it from me so long。 Yes； I am more jealous of a thought than of
all the women in the world。 Love is vast； but it is not infinite；
while Science has depths unfathomed； to which I will not let you go
alone。 I hate all that comes between us。 If you win the glory for
which you strive； I must be unhappy； it will bring you joy； while II
aloneshould be the giver of your happiness。〃
〃No； my angel； it was not an idea； not a thought； it was a man that
first led me into this glorious path。〃
〃A man！〃 she cried in terror。
〃Do you remember； Pepita； the Polish officer who stayed with us in
1809？〃
〃Do I remember him！〃 she exclaimed； 〃I am often annoyed because my
memory still recalls those eyes； like tongues of fire darting from
coals of hell； those hollows above the eyebrows； that broad skull
stripped of hair； the upturned moustache； the angular； worn face！
What awful impassiveness in his bearing！ Ah！ surely if there had been
a room in any inn I would never have allowed him to sleep here。〃
〃That Polish gentleman；〃 resumed Balthazar； 〃was named Adam de
Wierzchownia。 When you left us alone that evening in the parlor； we
happened by chance to speak of chemistry。 Compelled by poverty to give
up the study of that science； he had become a soldier。 It was； I
think； by means of a glass of sugared water that we recognized each
other as adepts。 When I ordered Mulquinier to bring the sugar in
pieces； the captain gave a start of surprise。 'Have you studied
chemistry？' he asked。 'With Lavoisier；' I answered。 'You are happy in
being rich and free；' he cried； then from the depths of his bosom came
the sigh of a man；one of those sighs which reveal a hell of anguish
hidden in the brain or in the heart； a something ardent； concentrated；
not to be expressed in words。 He ended his sentence with a look that
startled me。 After a pause； he told me that Poland being at her last
gasp he had taken refuge in Sweden。 There he had sought consolation
for his country's fate in the study of chemistry； for which he had
always felt an irresistible vocation。 'And I see you recognize as I
do；' he added； 'that gum arabic； sugar； and starch； reduced to powder；
each yield a substance absolutely similar； with； when analyzed； the
same qualitative result。'
〃He paused again； and then； after examining me with a searching eye；
he said confidentially； in a low voice； certain grave words whose
general meaning alone remains fixed on my memory； but he spoke with a
force of tone； with fervid inflections； with an energy of gesture；
which stirred my very vitals； and struck my imagination as the hammer
strikes the anvil。 I will tell you briefly the arguments he used；
which were to me like the live coal laid by the Almighty upon Isaiah's
tongue； for my studies with Lavoisier enabled me to understand their
full bearing。
〃'Monsieur；' he said； 'the parity of these three substances； in
appearance so distinct； led me to think that all the productions of
nature ought to have a single principle。 The researches of modern
chemistry prove the truth of this law in the larger part of natural
effects。 Chemistry divides creation into two distinct parts；organic
nature； and inorganic nature。 Organic nature； comprising as it does
all animal and vegetable creations which show an organization more or
less perfect；or； to be more exact； a greater or lesser motive power；
which gives more or less sensibility；is； undoubtedly； the more
important part of our earth。 Now； analysis has reduced all the
products of this nature to four simple substances； namely： three
gases； nitrogen； hydrogen； and oxygen； and another simple substance；
non…metallic and solid； carbon。 Inorganic nature； on the contrary； so
simple； devoid of movement and sensation； denied the power of growth
（too hastily accorded to it by Linnaeus）； possesses fifty…three simple
substances； or elements； whose different combinations make its
products。 Is it probable that means should be more numerous where a
lesser number of results are produced？
〃'My master's opinion was that these fifty…three primary bodies have
one originating principle； acted upon in the past by some force the
knowledge of which has perished to…day； but which human genius ought
to rediscover。 Well； then； suppose that this force does live and act
again； we have chemical unity。 Organic and inorganic nature would
apparently then rest on four essential principles；in fact； if we
could decompose nitrogen which we ought to consider a negation； we
should have but three。 This brings us at once close upon the great
Ternary of the ancients and of the alchemists of the Middle Ages； whom
we do wrong to scorn。 Modern chemistry is nothing more than that。 It
is much； and yet little；much； because the science has never recoiled
before difficulty； little； in comparison with what remains to be done。
Chance has served her well； my noble Science！ Is not that tear of
crystallized pure carbon； the diamond； seemingly the last substance
possible to create？ The old alchemists； who thought that gold was
decomposable and therefore creatable； shrank from the idea of
producing the diamond。 Yet we have discovered the nature and the law
of its composition。
〃'As for me；' he continued； 'I have gone farther still。 An experiment
proved to me that the mysterious Ternary； which has occupied the human
mind from time immemorial； will not be found by physical analyses；
which lack direction to a fixed point。 I will relate； in the first
place； the experiment itself。
〃'Sow cress…seed （to take one among the many substances of organic
nature） in flour of brimstone （to take another simple substance）。
Sprinkle the seed with distilled water； that no unknown element may
reach the product of the germination。 The seed germinates； and sprouts
from a known environment； and feeds only on elements known by