He made collections of shells and minerals, knew how to stuff birds, kept a mass of curiosities bought for nothing in his bedroom; took possession of phials and empty perfume bottles for his specimens; pinned butterflies and beetles under glass, hung Chinese parasols on the walls, together with dried fishskins.

He lived with his sister, an artificial-flower maker, in the due de Richelieu.

Though much admired by mammas this model young man was looked down upon by his sister's shop-girls, who had tried to inveigle him.

Slim and lean, of medium height, with dark circles round his eyes, Joseph Godard took little care of his person; his clothes were ill-cut, his trousers bagged, he wore white stockings at all seasons of the year, a hat with a narrow brim and laced shoes.

He was always complaining of his digestion.