"What else could you expect, doctor?" replied Madame Bastien, artlessly. "One lives for one's son you know." "You most assuredly do," said the doctor, warmly, "and it is well for you that you do, as but for him--" but M. Dufour checked himself suddenly as if he had been about to say something that would be better left unsaid. "You are right, my dear doctor, but now I think of it, didn't you say something about a proposition you were going to make to Frederick and me?" "True, it is this: you know, or rather you do not know--for you hear very little of the neighbourhood gossip--that the Château de Pont Brillant has recently undergone a thorough renovation." "I am so little _au courant_ with the gossip of the neighbourhood, as you say, that this is the first intimation I have had of the fact. I even thought that the château was closed." "It will not be much longer, for the young marquis is coming down to occupy it with his grandmother." "This is the son of the M. de Pont Brillant who died about three years ago, I suppose. He must be very young." "About Frederick's age. His father and mother are both dead, but his grandmother idolises him and she has gone to fabulous expense to refurnish the château, where she will hereafter spend eight or nine months of the year with her grandson. I was called to the castle a few days ago to attend M. le chef of the conservatories--for these great people do not say gardener; that would be entirely too common--and I was dazzled by the luxury and splendour that pervaded the immense establishment. There is a magnificent picture gallery, a palm house through which one could drive in a carriage, and superb statues in the gardens. Above all--but I want to have the pleasure of surprising you, so I will only say that the place rivals any of the magnificent palaces described in the Arabian Nights. I feel sure that you and Frederick would enjoy seeing all the wonders of this fairy-land, and thanks to the consideration which M. le chef of the gardens and conservatories accords me, I can take you through the chateau to-morrow or the day after, but no later, as the young marquis is expected the day following that. What do you say to the proposition?" "I accept it with pleasure, doctor. It will be a great treat to Frederick, whose wonder will be the greater as he has no idea that any such splendour exists in the world. So I thank you most heartily. We shall have a delightful day." "Very well. When shall we go?" "To-morrow, if it suits you." "Perfectly; I will make my round very early in the morning, so I can get here by nine o'clock. It will take us only about half an hour to reach the château, as there is a short cut through the forest." "And after we leave the château we can breakfast in the woods upon some fruit we will take with us," said Madame Bastien, gaily. "I will tell Marguerite to make one of those cakes you like so much, my dear doctor."