"Not at all, mademoiselle. It is most beautiful then: no rain like now—and such fruit everywhere. The finest grapes in the country are cultivated in these parts, and all the vineyards round here belong to me."
"You are a large propriétaire then, madame?"
"Yes, mademoiselle, I have a great deal of property. But it has given me much trouble."
"How so, madame?"
"I have had a long lawsuit over it. My sister disputed it with me. My father left me all his property here; but after his death, my sister's husband tried to get it, and we had a lawsuit for years. I won the suit, of course; but now my sister will not speak to me. And I have to come over here and look after the estate."
"Why, where do you live, madame?"
"In Paris, mademoiselle. Oh, there is no place in the world like Paris! It is paradise!"
"Is your husband a Frenchman then, madame?"
"Yes, and he has a post in Paris, and lives there; and so does my only son. Oh, he is a bel homme, my husband, a splendid man, ladies! I wish you could see him. He married me when he was stationed over here in Corsica, years ago; and stayed here some time. When he returned to Paris, I went with him; but I have crossed the sea from Marseilles three times to visit my country, and now I have been here two years."
"You are quite a traveller, madame."