"No, monsieur, never."
"Nature swarms with curious facts, which the most learned are not always able to explain; and from Apollonius of Tyana, the greatest magician of ancient times, down to Cagliostro, who also was able to evoke the devil, many people, who were not fools by any means, have believed in ghosts. For my part, I declare that I should much rather believe everything than nothing!—I return to the Tower.
"The property is quite extensive, in addition to the buildings, wherein a large number of people can be accommodated, for it is like a small château—there are more than twelve sleeping-rooms. Then there are the garden and a small park—about twelve acres in all. I believe that the price asked was fifty thousand francs, but as I have had the honor to tell you, they could find no purchaser; the nearness of the cross in the ravine, and all the stories that were in circulation frightened the ladies who came to see the property. So that there was great surprise throughout the region when the notary at Noisy-le-Grand said to his neighbors one morning: 'the Tower is sold!'
"The news flew from mouth to mouth: 'the Tower is sold!'
"'Bah! it isn't possible!'
"'Yes, it's a fact; monsieur le notaire himself told it.'
"'Well, to whom is it sold?'
"'To Monsieur Paul.'
"'Paul who? Paul what?'
"To all such questions the notary, upon whom secrecy had been enjoined, answered: