The whole valley regarded him as an oracle in the matter of agriculture.

He had managed to recover a hundred acres of contested land, not sold as national property, being in some way confounded with that of the township.

This land he had turned into fields which afforded good pasturage for his horses and cattle, and he planted them round with poplars, which now, at the end of six years, were making a fine growth.

He intended to buy back some of the lost estate, and to utilize all the out-buildings of the chateau by making a second farm and managing it himself.
Life at the chateau had thus become during the last two years prosperous and almost happy.

Monsieur d'Hauteserre was off at daybreaks to overlook his laborers, for he employed them in all weathers.