winter's plantations and two saddle-horses I have just
acquired, you will give me all the news of our friends in
Paris."

The comte closed his manuscript, took the young man's arm,
and went out into the garden with him.

Grimaud looked at Raoul with a melancholy air as the young
man passed out; observing that his head nearly touched the
traverse of the doorway, stroking his white royale, he
slowly murmured:

"How he has grown!"




CHAPTER 5

In which Something will be said of Cropoli
--of Cropoli and of a Great Unknown Painter.



Whilst the Comte de la Fere with Raoul visits the new
buildings he has had erected, and the new horses he has
bought, with the reader's permission we will lead him back
to the city of Blois, and make him a witness of the
unaccustomed activity which pervades that city.