assistant. Now, listen, Jacques," added he: "you have a good wrist, but
neither legs nor head; you are quick, but you do not reason. There are
three essential things in arms--first the head, then the hands and legs:
with the one you can defend yourself, with the others you may conquer,
but with all three you can always conquer."

"Ah! monsieur," said Jacques, "try Brother Borromée; I should like to
see it."

"No," said the treasurer, "I should be beaten, and I would rather
confess it than prove it."

"How modest and amiable he is!" said Gorenflot.

"On the contrary," whispered Chicot, "he is stupid with vanity. At his
age I would have given anything for such a lesson," and he sat down
again.

Jacques approached him, and admiration triumphing over the shame of
defeat:

"Will you give me some lessons, M. Briquet?" said he; "the prior will
permit it, will you not, your reverence?"

"With pleasure, my child."

"I do not wish to interfere with your master," said Chicot, bowing to
Borromée.

"Oh! I am not his only master," said he. "Neither all the honor nor the