"We came to pay our compliments to my lord the Marquis de Bouillon de Chateau d'Or."
"And very glad he is to see you, gentlemen," said their host.
"You?—impossible! He speaks with an English accent."
"An impostor!" replied another of the nobles, to whom the last sentence had been addressed in a whisper."
"I am, indeed,—and truly glad to make your acquaintance, I assure you."
"Well," resumed the Frenchman, "let me present to you the Viscount de Lanoy—the Baron Beauvilliers—the Marquis de Croissy—for myself, I'm Duc de Vieuxchateau."
"Sit down, gentlemen—I beg," said De Bouillon, after bowing to the personages named. "A charming place this Tours, and I'm very glad to see you—fine weather, gentlemen."
"I trust you have come with the intention of residing among us. Your estates, I conclude, are restored along with your titles."
"No, gentlemen, they're not. But we may manage to buy some of them back again. How's land here?"
"Land?" inquired the duke, rather bewildered with the question.