Passage on 166 - 167

In the last paragraph in section 3 of chapter 8, Nabokov talks about slides being projected onto a screen; as if in a science class room setting. They look like they are jelly because they are squashed, and to see the full detail they look disfigured. He then explains why they are wet; so they will seem bright. He likes the science of it all. But, one can tell how magnificent it is, even with just a naked eye, so says Nabokov. Hues of color shine through the class when it's not projected and someone is looking at it in between their thumb and finger. One can still see the greatness of the specimen, even when it isn't projected of magnified; it gives the specimen a different, more colorful look. This is all while he is young. To him, science is rather magical. When he is older he can see it even better under a microscope. It's a magic shaft is better for optimum study--can see it's full beauty. Since one can't see the full detail without a microscope, it's the link between what ones thinks it looks like and what it really looks like. He the big person becomes small as the small thing becomes large.