The Honour of His House by Fred M. White

To the great relief of Francois, de la Croisa returned to the cottage a day or two later as if nothing had happened, and as if he had merely been away on a little holiday. He gave no suggestion that he had been back to the great world again, and that he had been taking a hand once more in high politics. He had all the gaiety and carelessness of a child, he could speak of nothing but the roses, which he said had been neglected by Francois in his absence.

"Green fly, green fly," he said gaily. "Actually I can detect evidences of green fly on the trees which we got from Nice last year. It is a most extraordinary thing that I can trust nobody. What have you been doing, Francois? I hope you are not contemplating matrimony?"