"I might answer that I am not obliged to give an account of my actions to you, and that the highways are open to everybody."
"But you won't answer me in that way, Monsieur le baron."
"Why not?"
"Because, with due respect to you, it would be folly, and I believe you have too much sense to commit it."
"Very good; I won't discuss the point. I was going to my farm of Banl[oe]uvre, which, as you know, is at the farther end of the forest of Touvois, in which we now are."
"Well done; that's right, Monsieur le baron. Do me the honor to answer always in that way and we shall agree. Now, how is it that the Baron de la Logerie, who has so many good horses in his stables, so many fine carriages in his coach-house, should be travelling on foot with his friend, like a simple peasant,--like us, in short?"
"We had a horse, but he got away in an accident we met with, and we could not catch him."
"Well done again. Now, Monsieur le baron, I hope you will be kind enough to give us some news."
"I?"
"Yes. What is going on over there, Monsieur le baron?"