"Oh! I understand, monsieur."
"Then, François, you will go about the neighborhood, to all the peasants, and tell them also of my arrival; you will impress upon them that I am very rich, a very great man."
"Must I say that you are great?"
"I mean generous; that I intend to make rosières."
"Yes, monsieur, I will tell them that you intend to have rosières made for them."
"And that if they should bring me bouquets, if they should give me a little reception, with a discharge of firearms and shouts and dances, it could not fail to give me pleasure."
"Very well, monsieur; I will tell them that you want a reception that you don’t know anything about."
"Yes, that’s just it; in short, François, stir all the people up."
"Yes, monsieur, never fear; you shall be satisfied."
François started for La Roche-Noire, and Robineau, enchanted with his idea, went upstairs again to his two companions, rubbing his hands. He hurried them so that at last they left the table and went down to the courtyard. The stranger was filling his pipe.