and dogs. This kind of
taste for the exotic he had in his blood, as people have a taste for
the chase, or for medicine, or for the priesthood. He could not help
returning to the quay every time the gates of the barracks opened, drawn
toward it by an irresistible longing.

On one occasion, having stopped almost in ecstasy before an enormous
macaw, which was swelling out its plumes, bending forward and bridling
up again as if making the court curtseys of parrot-land, he saw the
door of a little cafe adjoining the bird dealer's shop open, and a young
negress appeared, wearing on her head a red silk handkerchief. She was
sweeping into the street the corks and sand of the establishment.

Boitelle's attention was soon divided between the bird and the woman,
and he really could not tell which of these two beings he contemplated
with the greater astonishment and delight.

The negress, having swept the rubbish into the street, raised her eyes,
and, in her turn, was dazzled by the soldier's uniform. There she stood
facing him with her broom in her hands as if she were bringing him a
rifle, while the macaw continued bowing. But at the end of a few seconds
the soldier began to feel embarrassed at this attention, and he walked
away quietly so as not to look as if he were beating a retreat.

But he came back. Almost every day he passed before the Cafe des
Colonies, and often he could distinguish through the window the figure
of the little black-skinned maid serving "bocks" or glasses of brandy to
the sailors of the port. Frequently, too, she would come out to the door
on seeing him; soon, without even having exchanged a word, they smiled
at one another like acquaintances; and Boitelle felt his heart touched
when he suddenly saw, glittering between the dark lips of the girl, a
shining row of white teeth. At length, one day he ventured to enter, and
was quite surprised to find that she could speak French like every one
else. The bottle of lemonade, of which she was good enough to accept a
glassful, remained in the soldier's recollection memorably delicious,
and it became a custom with him to come and absorb in this little tavern
on the quay all the agreeable drinks which he could afford.

For him it was a treat, a happiness, on which his thoughts dwelt
constantly, to watch the black hand of the little maid pouring something
into his glass while her teeth laughed more than her eyes. At the end
of two months they became fast friends