"The slimmer the more elegant," replied Felix, "and besides that comes back. I have been kept rather short of late by my doctor."
"The old story?"
"Well, perhaps a new edition."
"Revised and augmented?"
"So, so; but it is all right now. We have become steady; we are going to settle down. How do you like these trousers? I had them built. A clever combination of the military cut and the civilian cut. We are going to marry----"
"You ought to leave that alone, baron."
"Why?"
"At least you ought to many a sensible elderly woman."
"Why?"
"Because ere long you will need a motherly friend much more than a pretentious young wife."