M. Plantat's tone was friendly, almost paternal. He was deeply interested, evidently, in Robelot's prosperity.
"Satisfied!" resumed the bone-setter. "Not so much as you might think.
Life is very dear for poor people."
"But, haven't you just purchased an estate near d'Evry?"
"Yes."
"And a nice place, too, though a trifle damp. Happily you have stone to fill it in with, on the land that you bought of the widow Frapesle."
Robelot had never seen the old justice of the peace so talkative, so familiar; he seemed a little surprised.
"Three wretched pieces of land!" said he.
"Not so bad as you talk about. Then you've also bought something in the way of mines, at auction, haven't you?"
"Just a bunch of nothing at all."
"True, but it pays well. It isn't so bad, you see, to be a doctor without a diploma."