defined( my $s = -s $qfn )
   or die( "Can't stat `$qfn`: $!\n" );

... $s ...

##</code><code>##

stat( $qfn )
   or die( "Can't stat `$qfn`: $!\n" );

... -s _ ...

##</code><code>##

defined( my $s = ( stat( $qfn ) )[ 7 ] )
   or die( "Can't stat `$qfn`: $!\n" );

... $s ...