the earlier ages people tried to read on
the countenance the virtues, vices, and qualities of the disposition:
Believe me, if I could devote my leisure hours to this subject, I am
confident I should carry it so far as to be able to discover from a
shoe, or a boot, that had been worn for a time, many faults or
peculiarities of its possessor."

"Really?" said the old Lord smiling, "They betray themselves by the
garments, when closely examined; the hasty, or irresolute gait, the
shuffling of the feet, the gliding step of ladies, are certainly very
expressive; a certain nonchalant manner of walking, a haughty tread of
the heel, an affected, frivolous sliding on tip toe, the indecisive
tottering footstep, by which the shoe loses its shape, excepting the
qualities which however demonstrate themselves by the high, or low
instep, or by the flatness of the foot. But now for the legs; if these
were exhibited in their natural state, it would be scarcely possible to
mistake the rank, profession, and way of life; then there are tailor's
and baker's legs, which it is impossible not to recognise, foot and
cavalry soldier's legs, weaver's and joiner's legs, and so on."

"These are very interesting observations," said the Counsellor, "would
you, for instance, venture to declare the former manner of life of my
Frantz by his legs?"

"By my legs?" exclaimed the old servant, who was still busied in
clearing away. "Here they are, reverend sir."

"Stoop a little--now go yonder--come back again--stand perfectly
upright--my Lord Counsellor, I could swear that your Frantz has been in
his youth, nay at a later period of life, a mariner."'

The servant looked at the priest astounded, and the Lord of Beauvais
said: "You have hit it, my reverend friend; but from what do you draw
your conclusion?"

"No mariner," said the priest "ever loses entirely the straggling and
somewhat stooping gait which he has acquired on shipboard, he sinks his
loins in walking, and a slight limp remains for the rest of his life."

When the other servant approached, the priest immediately cried out,
"Give yourself no further trouble, one can see at the distance of a
gun-shot, that the good man has been a tailor in his youth, and that he
certainly pursues the same occupation now, for the bent shins clearly
demonstrate it." "You follow the chase," turning to the huntsman who
was standing; "it must be so, although I should rather have taken you
for a soldier, and from