[31] Frank Vizetelly, on whom as one of the managers of the business the summons was actually served, had offered to take full liability for the sales, but his father would not allow it. [32] At the risk of offending some readers by plain speaking the writer feels he may mention that his father was suffering from a stricture. All medical men will know the torture that ensues when the sufferer is placed under such conditions that he cannot obtain relief. The trial having suddenly collapsed, no medical man was in attendance to give evidence. Had medical evidence been given it is possible that Sir T. Chambers might have hesitated to pass a sentence of imprisonment. [33] He had the usual privileges of a first-class misdemeanant. His food was sent him from outside, he had some books and periodicals at his disposal, and a few articles of furniture were sent from his home. X THE LAST ROUGON-MACQUARTS--THE FRENCH ACADEMY--A VISIT TO LONDON 1888-1893 "Le Rêve"--How Zola rid himself of his obesity--"Germinal" as a play--"La Bête Humaine"--Zola longs to stagger the world--He becomes a candidate for the Academy--Why he failed to secure election--His novels "L'Argent" and "La Débâcle"--Ernest Vizetelly's position--He resolves to revive Zola in England--Translation of "La Débâcle"--Its reception in England--English opinion and Zola--French attacks on him--He visits Genoa--He writes "Le Docteur Pascal"--Conclusion of the Rougon-Macquart series--A few figures respecting it--Zola is made an Officer of the Legion of Honour--A reception in the Bois de Boulogne--An address to the Paris students--Zola and the Société des Gens de Lettres--He is invited to London by the Institute of Journalists--He hesitates to accept the invitation--Correspondence with Vizetelly--His reception in London--His paper on "Anonymity in Journalism"--At the Crystal Palace, the Imperial Institute, and the Guildhall--The Authors' Club dinner--Visits to Westminster Abbey, the National Gallery, and the British Museum--Some general impressions of London--The English visit and the French Academy.