François left the room, and Alfred and Edouard joined Robineau, who stood at the window overlooking the gardens and rapturously surveyed his property.
"Well, Robi—I mean La Roche-Noire, are you satisfied?" said Alfred as he entered the room; "here you are in your château!"
"Agree, messieurs, that such rooms as this are beautiful, majestic!"
"Yes, this is very large.—But aren’t we going to inspect the house?"
"In a moment. I am waiting for my people, I have some orders to give them; then we will inspect the château from cellar to eaves."
The concierge and the gardener made their appearance; they were both drunk, but the concierge especially found it difficult to stand erect, because he was already tipsy when his master ordered him to treat the peasants, and he had felt bound to keep them company.
"Our master sent for us," said the gardener, speaking slowly in order not to confuse his words; while the concierge leaned against a venerable easy-chair, in order not to fall.
"Ah! here is my household!" said Robineau.
"It doesn’t seem very firm on its legs," said Alfred.
"What position do you fill here?" Robineau asked the gardener.