Part 6 (1/2)
Monsieur Dalize now, in his turn, took up the conversation, and said,--
”The truth is that our friend Paul has a pa.s.sion for drawing. History and Latin please him a little, but for chemistry and the physical sciences he has no taste at all.”
Monsieur Roger smiled.
”You are wrong,” replied Monsieur Dalize, ”to excuse by your smile Paul's indifference to the sciences.--And as to you, Paul, you would do well to take as your example Monsieur Roger, who would not have his fortune if he had not known chemistry and the physical sciences. In our day the sciences are indispensable.”
Miss Miette, who had shoved herself a little away from the table, pouting slightly, heard these words, and came to the defence of the one whom she had begun by attacking. She opened a book full of pictures, and advanced with it to her father.
”Now, papa,” she said, with a look of malice in her eyes, ”did the gentleman who made that drawing have to know anything about chemistry or the physical sciences?”
[Ill.u.s.tration]
[Ill.u.s.tration]
CHAPTER VIII.
A DRAWING LESSON.
For a moment Monsieur Dalize was disconcerted, and knew not what to say in answer. Happily, Monsieur Roger came to his aid. He took the book from Miette's hands, looked at the engraving, and said, quietly,--
”Why, certainly, my dear young friend, the gentleman who made that drawing ought to know something about chemistry and physical science.”
”How so?” said Miette, astonished.
”Why, if he did not know the laws of physical science and of chemistry, he has, none the less, and perhaps even without knowing it himself, availed himself of the results of chemistry and physical science.”
Miette took the book back again, looked at the drawing with care, and said,--
”Still, there are not in this drawing instruments or apparatus, or machines such as I have seen in my brother's books.”
”But,” answered Monsieur Roger, smiling, ”it is not necessary that you should see instruments and apparatus and machines, as you say, to be in the presence of physical phenomena; and I a.s.sure you, my dear child, that this drawing which is under our eyes is connected with chemistry and physical science.”
Miette now looked up at Monsieur Roger to see if he was not making fun of her. Monsieur Roger translated this dumb interrogation, and said,--
”Come, now! what does this drawing represent? Tell me yourself.”
”Why, it represents two peasants,--a man and a woman,--who have returned home wet in the storm, and who are warming and drying themselves before the fire.”
”It is, in fact, exactly that.”
”Very well, sir?” asked Miette.
And in this concise answer she meant to say, ”In all that, what do you see that is connected with chemistry or physical science?”
”Very well,” continued Monsieur Roger; ”do you see this light mist, this vapor, which is rising from the cloak that the peasant is drying before the fire?”
”Yes.”