--- src/emacs/lisp/rect.el	2006-04-08 12:30:19.000000000 +0200
+++ ./rect.el	2006-08-13 08:31:38.653934746 +0200
@@ -181,12 +181,9 @@
 
 ;; this one is untouched --dv
 (defun spaces-string (n)
+  "Returns a string with N spaces."
   (if (<= n 8) (aref spaces-strings n)
-    (let ((val ""))
-      (while (> n 8)
-	(setq val (concat "        " val)
-	      n (- n 8)))
-      (concat val (aref spaces-strings n)))))
+    (make-string n ? )))
 
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun delete-rectangle (start end &optional fill)