"There is only one thing to do," said Lory, gravely, "and I have done it
myself. I have abandoned the idea of ever receiving a halfpenny of rent.
I have allowed the land to go out of cultivation. The vine-terraces are
falling, the olive trees are dying for want of cultivation. A few
peasants graze their cattle in my garden, I understand. The house itself
is only saved from falling down by the fact that it is strongly built of
stone. I would sell for a mere song, if I could find a serious offer of
that trifle; but nobody buys land in Corsica--for the peasants recognize
no title deeds and respect no rights of ownership. I had indeed an offer
the other day, but it was undoubtedly a joke, and I treated it as such."

"Denise also has had an offer to buy the Perucca property," said
Mademoiselle Brun.

"Yes," said Denise, seeing his surprise. "And you would advise me to
accept it?"

"If it is a serious one, most decidedly."

"It is serious enough," answered Denise. "It is from a Colonel Gilbert,
an officer stationed at Bastia."

"Ah!" he exclaimed; and at that moment another caller entered the room,
and he rose with eager politeness.

So it happened that Mademoiselle Brun could not see his face, and was
left wondering what the exclamation meant.

Several other callers now appeared--persons of the Baroness de Melide's