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showed no mercy on a newcomer； never sparing him the mockery； the
catechism； the impertinence； which were inexhaustible on such
occasions； to the discomfiture of the neophyte； whose manners；
strength； and temper were thus tested。 Lambert； whether he was stoical
or dumfounded； made no reply to any questions。 One of us thereupon
remarked that he was no doubt of the school of Pythagoras； and there
was a shout of laughter。 The new boy was thenceforth Pythagoras
through all his life at the college。 At the same time； Lambert's
piercing eye； the scorn expressed in his face for our childishness； so
far removed from the stamp of his own nature； the easy attitude he
assumed； and his evident strength in proportion to his years； infused
a certain respect into the veriest scamps among us。 For my part； I
kept near him； absorbed in studying him in silence。
Louis Lambert was slightly built； nearly five feet in height； his face
was tanned； and his hands were burnt brown by the sun； giving him an
appearance of manly vigor； which； in fact； he did not possess。 Indeed；
two months after he came to the college； when studying in the
classroom had faded his vivid； so to speak； vegetable coloring； he
became as pale and white as a woman。
His head was unusually large。 His hair； of a fine； bright black in
masses of curls； gave wonderful beauty to his brow； of which the
proportions were extraordinary even to us heedless boys； knowing
nothing； as may be supposed； of the auguries of phrenology； a science
still in its cradle。 The distinction of this prophetic brow lay
principally in the exquisitely chiseled shape of the arches under
which his black eyes sparkled； and which had the transparency of
alabaster； the line having the unusual beauty of being perfectly level
to where it met the top of the nose。 But when you saw his eyes it was
difficult to think of the rest of his face； which was indeed plain
enough； for their look was full of a wonderful variety of expression；
they seemed to have a soul in their depths。 At one moment
astonishingly clear and piercing； at another full of heavenly
sweetness； those eyes became dull； almost colorless； as it seemed；
when he was lost in meditation。 They then looked like a window from
which the sun had suddenly vanished after lighting it up。 His strength
and his voice were no less variable； equally rigid； equally
unexpected。 His tone could be as sweet as that of a woman compelled to
own her love； at other times it was labored； rough； rugged； if I may
use such words in a new sense。 As to his strength； he was habitually
incapable of enduring the fatigue of any game； and seemed weakly；
almost infirm。 But during the early days of his school…life； one of
our little bullies having made game of this sickliness； which rendered
him unfit for the violent exercise in vogue among his fellows； Lambert
took hold with both hands of one of the class…tables； consisting of
twelve large desks； face to face and sloping from the middle； he
leaned back against the class…master's desk； steadying the table with
his feet on the cross…bar below； and said：
〃Now； ten of you try to move it！〃
I was present； and can vouch for this strange display of strength； it
was impossible to move the table。
Lambert had the gift of summoning to his aid at certain times the most
extraordinary powers； and of concentrating all his forces on a given
point。 But children； like men； are wont to judge of everything by
first impressions； and after the first few days we ceased to study
Louis； he entirely belied Madame de Stael's prognostications； and
displayed none of the prodigies we looked for in him。
After three months at school； Louis was looked upon as a quite
ordinary scholar。 I alone was allowed really to know that sublimewhy
should I not say divine？soul； for what is nearer to God than genius
in the heart of a child？ The similarity of our tastes and ideas made
us friends and chums； our intimacy was so brotherly that our school…
fellows joined our two names； one was never spoken without the other；
and to call either they always shouted 〃Poet…and…Pythagoras！〃 Some
other names had been known coupled in a like manner。 Thus for two
years I was the school friend of poor Louis Lambert； and during that
time my life was so identified with his； that I am enabled now to
write his intellectual biography。
It was long before I fully knew the poetry and the wealth of ideas
that lay hidden in my companion's heart and brain。 It was not till I
was thirty years of age； till my experience was matured and condensed；
till the flash of an intense illumination had thrown a fresh light
upon it； that I was capable of understanding all the bearings of the
phenomena which I witnessed at that early time。 I benefited by them
without understanding their greatness or their processes； indeed； I
have forgotten some； or remember only the most conspicuous facts；
still； my memory is now able to co…ordinate them； and I have mastered
the secrets of that fertile brain by looking back to the delightful
days of our boyish affection。 So it was time alone that initiated me
into the meaning of the events and facts that were crowded into that
obscure life； as into that of many another man who is lost to science。
Indeed； this narrative； so far as the expression and appreciation of
many things is concerned； will be found full of what may be termed
moral anachronisms； which perhaps will not detract from its peculiar
interest。
In the course of the first few months after coming to Vendome； Louis
became the victim of a malady which； though the symptoms were
invisible to the eye of our superiors； considerably interfered with
the exercise of his remarkable gifts。 Accustomed to live in the open
air； and to the freedom of a purely haphazard education； happy in the
tender care of an old man who was devoted to him； used to meditating
in the sunshine； he found it very hard to submit to college rules； to
walk in the ranks； to live within the four walls of a room where
eighty boys were sitting in silence on wooden forms each in front of
his desk。 His senses were developed to such perfection as gave them
the most sensitive keenness； and every part of him suffered from this
life in common。
The effluvia that vitiated the air； mingled with the odors of a
classroom that was never clean； nor free from the fragments of our
breakfasts or snacks； affected his sense of smell； the sense which；
being more immediately connected than the others with the nerve…
centers of the brain； must； when shocked； cause invisible disturbance
to the organs of thought。
Besides these elements of impurity in the atmosphere； there were
lockers in the classrooms in which the boys kept their miscellaneous
plunderpigeons killed for fete days； or tidbits filched from the
dinner…table。 In each classroom； too； there was a large stone slab； on
which two pails full of water were kept standing； a sort of sink；
where we every morning washed our faces and hands； one after another；
in the master's presence。 We then passed on to a table； where women
combed and powdered our hair。 Thus the place； being cleaned but once a
day before we were up； was a