His yellow beard seemed to bristle defiantly.

Then, gradually an expression of resignation came over his face and he turned toward Gervaise who was clinging tightly to him and said with a sad smile: "Well! That machine would certainly win a contest.

But perhaps it will be for the good of mankind in the long run." Gervaise didn't care a bit about the welfare of mankind.

Smiling, she said to Goujet: "I like yours better, because they show the hand of an artist." Hearing this gave him great happiness because he had been afraid that she might be scornful of him after seeing the machines.

_Mon Dieu!_ He might be stronger than Salted-Mouth, otherwise Drink-without-Thirst, but the machines were stronger yet.