"'Nothing easier. You know the story of Jeannot's knife?'
"'To be sure I do; it is one of our national chronicles. The blade had been changed fifteen times, and the handle fifteen times, but it was still the same knife.'
"'The case of the corricolo is exactly similar. It is forbidden to build new ones, but it is not forbidden to put new wheels to old bodies, and new bodies on old wheels. By these means the corricolo becomes immortal.'
"'I understand. An old body and new wheels for me, if you please. But the horses? Do you mean to say that for thirty francs I shall have a pair of horses?'
"'A superb pair, that will go like the wind.'
"'What sort of horses?'
"'Oh, dead ones, of course!'
"'Dead ones!'
"'Certainly. At that price you could hardly expect any thing better.'
"'My dear M. Martin, be kind enough to explain. I am travelling for my improvement, and information of all kinds is highly acceptable.'