They would go to some pretty estate in the suburbs of Paris, live there and plant cabbages.

Why work?
they had no children.
Michel agreed to these schemes.

For a long time he had wished for repose.

Often he had feared that his wife's ambition would lead them too far.

But now, since she stopped of her own accord, it was all for the best.
At this juncture their solicitor informed them that, near to their works, the Cernay estate was to be put up for sale.