Volume I Part 28 (1/2)
”A garden all planted! Then we should have fruit. Honorine, I will be the one to take care of the garden. Ch.e.l.les--in which direction is that?”
”Ch.e.l.les, mademoiselle, formerly celebrated for its abbey, is just beyond Montfermeil and the village of Couberon. It used to be a heavily-wooded district, but I believe the wood has been pretty well thinned out in the forest; however, there is still the Forest of Raincy, which is not far away. They do some cutting there also, it is true, but there will always be a little left. It's a very uneven, picturesque country. You desire a country house where you will be free from anything like etiquette; in that neighborhood you will imagine that you are a hundred leagues from Paris.”
”That place might suit us, but the price----”
”I beg pardon, madame, I have not read it all.--'The house is all furnished, and the owner desires to sell it in that condition. Whoever wishes to see it may apply to Pere Ledrux, gardener and florist, who lives nearby and has the keys; he is instructed to show the place. Pere Ledrux is well known in the town and anybody will point out his house.
The place will be sold for twenty thousand francs.'”
”Twenty thousand francs and all furnished. Why, that is just what you wanted, Honorine!”
”I must say that it does not seem to me a high price. I know Montfermeil--it's a delightful country.”
”As I told you, mesdames, this is a rare chance. Do you pay cash?”
”Yes, monsieur, the whole amount in cash.”
”Oh well! in that case perhaps we may be able to obtain a reduction in the price; my client is very good-natured since he made a fortune, wherein he doesn't resemble the majority of new-rich people.”
”The next thing is to find out whether the house will suit me; you will understand, monsieur, that I don't wish to buy it until I have seen it and found out whether it is pleasantly situated, not too lonely, and whether it has a good view.”
”Very well, madame, you must go and see it. Ch.e.l.les isn't far away; there's a railroad station there; I think it's the Strasbourg line that runs through the town, or very near it. You will be there in an hour; inquire for Pere Ledrux, gardener and florist, and he will show you Monsieur Courtivaux's house--that is my client's name.”
”Yes, yes, that's right; let us go to Ch.e.l.les, Honorine, and see the house. If you like it, we will buy it immediately.”
”The weather isn't very inviting for a trip to the country; no matter--if it's fine to-morrow, we will go there; and if the house suits us, we will return, monsieur, and arrange about the purchase.”
”If madame will kindly leave me her address, I shall have the honor to call and thus save her the trouble of returning.”
”Here is my address, monsieur; but if we see the house to-morrow, we may not wait for you to call; especially if we like it, for we shall be in a hurry to conclude the bargain, and we shall come to see you at once.”
”As you please, madame; I shall always be at your service. Would you like me to write the names for you--Ledrux and Courtivaux?”
”It's not necessary, monsieur; we have good memories.”
Chamoureau escorted his new client to the stairs. When he returned to his room he looked at the card she had handed him and read:
”Madame Dalmont, 40 Rue des Martyrs.”
”Madame!” murmured the agent, ”they are two ladies who live alone--one unmarried; the elder is evidently a widow, unless she is separated from her husband. An interesting and distinguished face, and most refined manners. The young lady is exceedingly pretty! refined, regular features--not red like most blondes; but with all that she doesn't come up to my enchanting brunette, who expects me to-morrow between two o'clock and five--at her hotel.--Ah! I hear Madame Monin at last.”
The servant returned without a sign of a bundle. Her master began at once to question her.
”Well, Madame Monin?”
”I did your errands, monsieur; I carried the Spanish costume back to the costumer, who said that monsieur had lost lots of spangles off the cloak.”
”Indeed! he proposes to count the spangles, does he? Skip the details.
Freluchon hasn't gone home, I suppose, as you haven't my clothes?”