eyes, which became in a second as big as an 
orange; I broke one of my nails in breaking 
two of his teeth, and as I did not feel myself 
strong enough (for I was of a delicate constitu-
tion, and had done very little boxing) to kill 
this old man quickly, I seized him by his coat-
collar with one hand, and with other I caught 
his throat and began to knock his head vio-
lently against a wall. I must confess that I had 
previously thrown a rapid glance around and 
made sure that in this deserted suburb I was 
for a sufficiently long time out of the range of 
any policemen. 
Having finally, by a kick in the back hard 
enough to break his shoulders, knocked down 
this feeble sexagenarian, I took a big tree 
branch which was lying on the ground and beat 
him with all the persistent energy shown by 
cooks who are trying to make a steak tender. 
Suddenly—Oh miracle!—Oh joy of the phi-
losopher who verifies the excellence of his the-
ory!—I saw this antique carcass turn over, 
spring up with such an energy which I should 
never have suspected from so seriously dam-
aged a machine, and with a look of hatred 
which appeared to me of the best augury, the 
decrepit brigand threw himself upon me, gave 
me two black eyes, broke four of my teeth, 
and with the same branch beat me to the con-