"Well, then, monsieur, can I begin to-day to look for a shop, so as to
start at once?"

"Yes, my son. To-morrow we will shut ourselves up in the workshop, you
and I. Before you go to the Rue des Lombards, call at Livingston's and
see if my hydraulic press will be ready to use to-morrow morning.
To-night we will go, about dinner-time, to the good and illustrious
Monsieur Vauquelin and consult him. He has lately been employed in
studying the composition of hair; he has discovered the nature of the
coloring matter and whence it comes; also the structure of the hair
itself. The secret is just there, Popinot, and you shall know it; all
we have to do is to work it out cleverly. Before you go to
Livingston's, just stop at Pieri Berard's. My lad, the disinterested
kindness of Monsieur Vauquelin is one of the sorrows of my life. I
cannot make him accept any return. Happily, I found out from
Chiffreville that he wished for the Dresden Madonna, engraved by a man
named Muller. After two years correspondence with Germany, Berard has
at last found one on Chinese paper before lettering. It cost fifteen
hundred francs, my boy. To-day, my benefactor will see it in his
antechamber when he bows us out; it is to be all framed, and I want
you to see about it. We--that is, my wife and I--shall thus recall
ourselves to his mind; as for gratitude, we have prayed to God for him
daily for sixteen years. I can never forget him; but you see, Popinot,
men buried in the depths of science do forget everything,--wives,
friends, and those they have benefited. As for us plain people, our
lack of mind keeps our hearts warm at any rate. That's the consolation
for not being a great man. Look at those gentlemen of the Institute,
--all brain; you will never meet one of them in a church. Monsieur
Vauquelin is tied to his study or his laboratory; but I like to
believe he thinks of God in analyzing the works of His hands.--Now,