“Eh! mon Dieu! yes. I have disposed of my business to one of my young men.”
“Bah! you are rich, then, I suppose?”
“Monsieur, I have taken a dislike to the city; I don’t know whether it is because I am growing old, and as M. d’Artagnan one day said, when we grow old we more often think of the adventures of our youth; but for some time past I have felt myself attracted towards the country and gardening. I was a countryman formerly.” And Planchet marked this confession with a rather pretentious laugh for a man making profession of humility.
Athos made a gesture of approval, and then added: “You are going to buy an estate, then?”
“I have bought one, monsieur.”
“Ah! that is still better.”
“A little house at Fontainebleau, with something like twenty acres of land round it.”
“Very well, Planchet! Accept my compliments on your acquisition.”
“But, monsieur, we are not comfortable here; the cursed dust makes you cough. Corbleu! I do not wish to poison the most worthy gentleman in the kingdom.”
Athos did not smile at this little pleasantry which Planchet had aimed at him, in order to try his strength in mundane facetiousness.