In this way the reading and translating of the Panopolitan advanced
quickly. I hardly contributed to it. Such kind of work was above my
knowledge and I had enough to do to learn the figure that the Greek
letters make on papyrus. Sometimes I assisted my tutor by consulting
the authors who could enlighten him in his researches, and foremost
Olympiodorus and Plotinus, with whom since then I have remained
familiar. The small services I was able to render him increased
considerably my self-esteem.

After a long sharp winter I was on the way to become a learned
person, when the spring broke in suddenly with her gallant equipage
of light, tender green and singing birds; the perfume of the lilacs
coming into the library windows caused me vague reveries, out of
which my tutor called me by saying:

"Jacquot Tournebroche, please climb up that ladder and tell me if
that rascal Manethon does not mention a god Imhotep, who by his
contradictions tortures one like a devil."

And my good master filled his nose with tobacco and looked quite
content.

On another occasion he said:

"My boy, it is remarkable how great an influence our garments have
on our moral state. Since my neckband has become spotted with
different sauces I have dropped upon it I feel a less honest man.
Now that you are dressed like a marquis, Tournebroche, does not the
desire tickle you to assist at the toilet of an opera girl, and to