“His name is Arago?”

“What science do you cultivate?”

My neighbour on the left immediately replied,—­

“He cultivates astronomy.”

“What have you done?”

My neighbour on the right, jealous of my left hand neighbour for having encroached on his rights at the second question, now hastened to reply, and said,—­

“He has just been measuring the line of the meridian in Spain.”

The Emperor imagining doubtless that he had before him either a dumb man or an imbecile, passed on to another member of the Institute.  This one was not a novice, but a naturalist well known through his beautiful and important discoveries; it was M. Lamarck.  The old man presented a book to Napoleon.

“What is that?” said the latter, “it is your absurd meteorology, in which you rival Matthieu Laensberg.  It is this ‘annuaire’ which dishonours your old age.  Do something in Natural History, and I should receive your productions with pleasure.  As to this volume, I only take it in consideration of your white hair.  Here!” And he passed the book to an aide-de-camp.

Poor M. Lamarck, who, at the end of each sharp and insulting sentence of the Emperor, tried in vain to say, “It is a work on Natural History which I present to you,” was weak enough to fall into tears.

The Emperor immediately afterwards met with a more energetic antagonist in the person of M. Lanjuinais.  The latter had advanced, book in hand.  Napoleon said to him, sneeringly:—­

“The entire Senate, then, is to merge in the Institute?” “Sire,” replied Lanjuinais, “it is the body of the state to which most time is left for occupying itself with literature.”

The Emperor, displeased at this answer, at once quitted the civil uniforms, and busied himself among the great epaulettes which filled the room.

Immediately after my nomination, I was exposed to strange annoyances on the part of the military authorities.  I had left for Spain, still holding the title of pupil of the Polytechnic School.  My name could not remain on the books more than four years; consequently I had been enjoined to return to France to go through the examinations necessary on quitting the school.  But in the meantime Lalande died, and thus a place in the Bureau of Longitude became vacant.  I was named assistant astronomer.  These places were submitted to the nomination of the Emperor.  M. Lacuee, Director of the Conscription, thought that, through this latter circumstance, the law would be satisfied, and I was authorized to continue my operations.

M. Matthieu Dumas, who succeeded him, looked at the question from an entirely different point of view; he enjoined me either to furnish a substitute, or else to set off myself with the contingent of the twelfth arrondissement of Paris.

All my remonstrances and those of my friends having been fruitless, I announced to the honourable General that I should present myself in the Place de l’Estrapade, whence the conscripts had to depart, in the costume of a member of the Institute; and that thus I should march on foot through the city of Paris.  General Matthieu Dumas was alarmed at the effect which this scene would produce on the Emperor, himself a member of the Institute, and hastened, under fear of my threat, to confirm the decision of General Lacuee.