"I will sit down," said Mr. Berkeley, placing a chair with its back to the door; "I find our interview will last a little longer than I looked for."
"As you please, Monsieur. You will permit me?"
Polignac seated himself at the table.
"It appears, Monsieur," said the squire, "that I should have said my friend."
"Again, Monsieur, I will not dispute the phrase. His family estates join yours, I understand?"
"What?"
"I do not know; I only repeat what your friend told me."
"Yes, I understand," said Mr. Berkeley hurriedly, feeling that by his unguarded exclamation he had lost one point in the game. "Not precisely adjoin, but the phrase is sufficiently exact: we are neighbours."
"And naturally you are concerned at the hapless situation into which your neighbour's evil star has brought him."
"That is so, Monsieur."