De Chaumont came a step to meet me, and I felt miraculously equal to him, with some power which was not in me before.
"You scoundrel, you have fallen into luck!" he said heartily.
"One of our proverbs is, 'A blind pig will find an acorn once in a while.'"
"There isn't a better acorn in the woods, or one harder to shake down. How did you do it?"
I gave him a wise smile and held my tongue; knowing well that if I had remained in Ste. Pélagie and the fact ever came to De Chaumont's ears, like other human beings he would have reprehended my plunging into the world.
"We are getting on tremendously, Lazarre! When your inheritance falls in, come back with me to Castorland. We will found a wilderness empire!"
I did not inquire what he meant by my inheritance falling in. The marquis pressed behind me, and when I had spoken to Madame de Ferrier I knew it was his right to take the hand of the woman who had been his little neighbor.
"You don't remember me, madame?"
"Oh, yes, I do, Monsieur du Plessy; and your wall fruit, too!"
"The rogue! Permit me to tell you those pears are hastening to be ready for you once more."