“—and the pleasure of welcoming to Méricourt the nephew of our father’s friend.”
“You are very good, sir,” said Ned.
“I would fain believe it, monsieur. I have the pleasure to offer you the use of the chateau as an hotel for just so long as you care to stay.”
Ned, taken momentarily aback, hesitated over the right construction of so enigmatical an offer.
“Ah!” said the other, “it is to be considered literally.”
“In the business aspect, monsieur?”
“Assuredly. You must understand I have waived the privileges of my class, amongst which is to be numbered the right to acquit the wealthy of taxation. The ponds must feed the rivulets, monsieur.”
Seeing his visitor lost in introspection, “Enfin,” he cried, with a musical laugh, “that is the practical side. It is not based, believe me, upon a system of profits. For the social, I take you to my heart, monsieur, with all enthusiasm.”
And so Ned became a guest at the chateau at cost price.