"Nenni! all the more as it ain't safe to depend on other folks for that. Ha! ha! ha! tutu—turlututu."
During their conversation the two men had entered the garden. Père Ledrux closed the little gate, and the two friends, who had left the summer-house, soon found themselves face to face with Doctor Antoine, who bowed again, saying:
"Mesdames, as an inhabitant—and physician—of this district, I shall consider myself very happy if we are to have the good fortune to claim you as neighbors, as Ledrux has led me to hope; for he tells me that you propose to buy this estate."
"Yes, monsieur, we both like the house very much. It is well arranged and pleasantly located; the garden is large enough for us. But just as the gardener caught sight of you, I was talking with him of the isolation of this house. We have no man in our family. I expect to employ a servant, but it will be some young peasant girl! So you will understand, monsieur, that we must not incur any risks."
"I have lived at Chelles many years, mesdames, and I feel justified in assuring you that it is not a region of thieves."
"I believe it, monsieur, but is the neighborhood as safe as the place itself? Naturally, when one lives in the country, one goes out to walk——"
"And very wisely; it is good for the health."
"But it would be very unpleasant if one had to dread disagreeable accidents on such walks."
"The whole neighborhood is quite thickly settled; and on my word, except——"
"Except? go on, monsieur."