This family held it till within the last four years, when two or three fresh claimants came forward; so that it is now the object of a lawsuit which may last till every brick of it falls to ruin, and every tree about it withers away.

At present, a man and his wife have charge of the place, and visitors are permitted to see it any day between twelve and four." "I should like to see the old place," said I.
"And I should like to see how the bride is dressed," said Josephine, "and if the bridegroom is handsome." "Well, let us go--not forgetting to thank Monsieur _le Perruquier_ for his polite information." Monsieur _le Perruquier_ fell into what dancing-masters call the first position, and bowed elaborately.
"Most welcome, Mademoiselle--and Monsieur," said he.

"Straight up the road--past the orchard about a quarter of a mile--old iron gates--can't miss it.

Good-afternoon, Mademoiselle--also Monsieur." Following his directions, we came presently to the gates, which were rusty and broken-hinged, with traces of old gilding still showing faintly here and there upon their battered scrolls and bosses.

One of them was standing open, and had evidently been standing so for years; while the other had as evidently been long closed, so that the deep grass had grown rankly all about it, and the very bolt was crusted over with a yellow lichen.