Page:Crainquebille, Putois, Riquet and other profitable tales, 1915.djvu/164

 150 gardener, and if need be a stock-jobber. Ah! my friend if only I had the energy I would cut out all the Jews."

We went out into the faubourg; and, as we walked my friend assumed a gait very different from his habitual nonchalance. His pace soon became so rapid that I had difficulty in keeping up with him. In front of us was a woman rather well dressed. He called my attention to her.

"Her back is round, and she is heavy of figure. But look at her ankle. I am sure the leg is charming. Have you not noticed that the build of horses, of women, and of all fine animals is very much the same? Coarse and large in the fleshy parts, their limbs become thin towards the joints, where they display the fineness of the bones. Look at that woman; above her waist she is not worth a glance. But her limbs! How free, how powerful! How well balanced the movement of her walk! And how fine the leg just above the ankle! And the thigh I am sure is nervously supple and really beautiful."

Then he added with that acquired wisdom which he was ever ready to communicate:

"You must not ask everything from one woman; you must take beauty where you find it. It is deucedly rare, is beauty!"