It is a weakness of mine which comes from a residence abroad." These words touched the Philosopher a little.

To have been abroad was the next best thing to having been a foreigner _ab origine_.

But still he felt a little suspicious.

He was superior to the popular prejudice against the mustache, but he could not endure hair-oil.

"Nature," he maintained, "made the whole beard to be worn, and Nature provides an oil for the hair.