I said to M. d'Asterac that I was glad it was so and he continued:

"Men's teeth are a sign of ferocity. Once people are properly fed,
their teeth will give way to some ornament similar to the pearls of
the Salamander. Then it will become incomprehensible that a lover
could, without horror and disgust, contemplate dogs' teeth in the
mouth of his beloved."




CHAPTER VIII

The Library and its Contents


After dinner our host conducted us to a vast gallery adjoining his
study; it was the library. There were to be seen ranged on oaken
shelves an innumerable army, or rather a grand assembly, of books in
duodecimo, in octavo, in quarto, in folio, clad in calf, sheep,
morocco leather, in parchment and in pigskin. The light fell through
six windows on this silent assembly extended from one end of the
hall to the other, all along the high walls. Large tables,
alternated with globes and astronomical apparatus, occupied the
middle of the gallery. M. d'Asterac told us to make choice of the
place most convenient for our work.

My dear tutor, his head high, with look and breath inhaled all these
books drivelling with joy.