"I dislike clumsiness in my profession," he said. "Why should the brutality of war be brought into a peaceful occupation?" He was half in earnest, half in jest.
"That is a third reason, and a good one." It was difficult to surprise Gamel. "Suppose we talk business," he added.
"Mine or thine?"
"Mine. A moment, Citizen François—permit me. Pray stand up a moment."
François rose as the fencing-master produced a tape-measure. "Permit me," and with no more words he set one end of the tape on François's shoulder and carried the length of it to his finger-tips.
François stood still, wondering what it all meant.
"The deuce!" said Gamel, slowly rolling up the measuring-tape.
"Well, what is it? What is wrong?"
"Wrong? Nothing. It is astonishing!"
"What?"