nd to comprise no less than six thousand two hundred and
sixty-eight."

The Guernsey passenger with the telescope had approached the St. Malo
cattle dealers; and their talk was something in this vein:

"The Aubrac bull has a round and thick buttock, short legs, and a
yellowish hide. He is slow at work by reason of the shortness of his
legs."

"In that matter the Salers beats the Aubrac."

"I have seen, sir, two beautiful bulls in my life. The first has the
legs low, the breast thick, the rump full, the haunches large, a good
length of neck to the udder, withers of good height, the skin easy to
strip. The second had all the signs of good fattening, a thick-set back,
neck and shoulders strong, coat white and brown, rump sinking."

"That's the Cotentin race."

"Yes; with a slight cross with the Angus or Suffolk bull."

"You may believe it if you please, sir, but I assure you in the south
they hold shows of donkeys."

"Shows of donkeys?"

"Of donkeys, on my honour. And the ugliest are the most admired."

"Ha! it is the same as with the mule shows. The ugly ones are considered
best."

"Exactly. Take also the Poitevin mares; large belly, thick legs."

"The best mule known is a sort of barrel upon four posts."

"Beauty in beasts is a different thing from beauty in men."

"And particularly in women."

"That is true."

"As for me, I like a woman to be pretty."

"I am more particular about her being well dressed."

"Yes; neat, clean, and well set off."

"Looking just new. A pretty girl ought always to appear as if she had
just been turned out by a jeweller."

"To return to my bulls; I saw these two sold at the market at Thouars."

"The market at Thouars; I know it very well. The Bonneaus of La
Rochelle, and the Babas corn merchants at Marans, I don't know whether
you have heard of them attending that market."

The tourist and the Parisian were conversing with the American of the
Bibles.

"Sir," said the tourist, "I will tell you the tonnage of the civilised
world. France 716,000 tons; Germany 1,000,000; the United States,
5,000,000; England, 5,500,000; add the small vessels. Total 12,904,000
tons, carried in 145,000 vessels scattered over the waters of the
globe."

The American interrupted:

"It is the United States, sir, which have 5,500,000."

"I agree," said the tourist. "You are an American?"

"Yes, sir."

"I agree again."

There was a pause. The American missionary was considering wheth