learn it."

Monsieur Laurent did not speak lightly. He had veritably helped to
make history, having left his right foot and part of his leg "Out
there" on the hills of Verdun.

I asked him how he was getting along since his return.

"Better than ever! Excellent appetite--never a cold--never an ill.
I'll soon be as spry as a rabbit. Why, I used to be too heavy, I
always fell asleep after luncheon. That campaign set my blood to
rights. I'm ten years younger," he exclaimed, pounding his chest.

"That's a good strong-box, isn't it?" and he coughed loudly to
thoroughly convince of its solidity.

"France can still count on me! I was ready for war, and I shall be
prepared for peace."

"Just wait till it gets here," murmured some woman.

[Illustration: THE COURTYARD LEADING TO MADAME HUARD'S CELLAR]

"It'll come, it's bound to come some time," he cried, evidently
pursuing a favourite theme. "And we'll like it all the better for
having waited so long."

Monsieur Laurent has firm faith in the immediate business future.

"_Voila_! all we've got to do is to lay Germany out flat. Even then
the economical struggle that will follow the war will be terrible," he
prophesies. "The French must come to the fore with all the resources
of their national genius. As to myself, I have my own idea on the
subject."

We were fairly drinking in his words.

"You've all doubtless seen the sign that I put up in my window?"

We acquiesced.

"Well, it was that sign that opened my eyes."

I was all attention by this time, for I distinctly remembered the above
mentioned sign. It had puzzled and amused me immensely. Painted in
brilliant letters, it ran as follows:

_EXCEPTIONAL BARGAIN:_

_For men having their left foot
amputated and wearing size No. 9.
3 shoes for the right foot--two
black and one tan; excellent
quality, almost like new.
For sale, or exchange for shoes
belonging to the left foot. Must be
of same quality and in like condition._

"I haven't yet made any special effort to ascertain whether there are
more amputations of the left than of the right foot," continued
Monsieur Laurent; "I suppose it's about equal. Well, my plan is just
this. As soon as there's peace I'm going to set up shop on the rue St.
Antoine, or the Place de la Bastille. I'll call it 'A la botte de
l'ampute,' and I sell my shoes separately instead of in pairs. There's
a fortune in it inside of five years.