I could, with well-tempered steel, cut asunder a seven-times-folded piece of silk at one blow without fraying out a thread.

Yes, as neatly as one cuts butter! You could do that too if you liked.

It all lies in the arm--the brave arm that kills at a single stroke." And he gazed at me intently with his small blear eyes as though anxious to know more of my character and temperament.

I turned abruptly from him, and called his attention to my own discarded garments.
"See," I said, carelessly; "you can have these, though they are not of much value.

And, stay, here are another three francs for some socks and shoes, which I dare say you can find to suit me." He clasped his hands ecstatically, and poured out a torrent of thanks and praises for this additional and unexpected sum, and protesting by all the saints that he and the entire contents of his shop were at the service of so generous a stranger, he at once produced the articles I asked for.