And with the pleasure of living, he gained there a delight in doing nothing, an indolent feeling took possession of his limbs, and his muscles gradually glided into a very sweet slumber.
It was the slow victory of laziness, which took advantage of his convalescence to obtain possession of his body and unnerve him with its tickling.

He regained his health, as thorough a banterer as before, thinking life beautiful, and not seeing why it should not last for ever.
As soon as he could get about without the crutches, he made longer walks, often visiting construction jobs to see old comrades.

He would stand with his arms folded, sneering and shaking his head, ridiculing the workers slaving at the job, stretching out his leg to show them what you got for wearing yourself out.

Being able to stand about and mock others while they were working satisfied his spite against hard work.
No doubt he'd have to go back to it, but he'd put it off as long as possible.

He had a reason now to be lazy.