"What does that prove? Haven’t men always loved to travel? The most ancient peoples, the Jews, Chaldæans, the Phœnicians, set us the example; and when a patriarch like Abraham journeys with his family, his household and his flocks, from the Euphrates to Palestine, and then to Egypt, it seems to me that an Auvergnat may well take the trouble to travel to Paris."
"That is true; however, I don’t know Auvergne, but I have heard that it is a very interesting country. Of course you will go down and inspect the château before purchasing?"
"No, I shall purchase it at once and inspect it afterward; I propose to make my entry as lord, as proprietor. The domain of La Roche-Noire! and only eighty thousand francs! You must agree, my dear De Marcey, that it’s a great find."
"More probably some old Gothic structure, in a ruinous, dilapidated condition, where you will have to lay out a lot of money just in repairs."
"I shall repair nothing; I love ruins myself! And a park! a forest! hunting and fishing!"
"Do you hunt as well as you ride?"
"Oh! you wicked joker! Look you, I am sure that you have formed a very false idea of my château."
"I assure you that I am very glad that you have one, because now you will at least let me sleep in peace."
"Oh! my friend! my dear friend! I have a delightful idea!"
"To buy another château?"