forwarded message from Jerry Quinn

[Paolo Carlini]

Jerry Quinn wrote:

>Well, we're still a factor of 2 slower than gcc 2.95 for basic number
>and small string writing.  So every little bit helps.
>
Yes. And I take the occasion to thank you for your recent contributions. 
Please keep on working
on such issues!

>This looks great.  I wish I'd thought of it :-)
>
Fine ;)

If in the next few hours nobody obejcts I will commit this change to 
both trunk and 3_3.

Paolo.