But by this time
the gay Baron d'Azan had become stout, the pillar of his neck seemed
shorter because it was thicker, and the rose in his bold cheek had
the purplish tint of a crimson rambler. So he died of an apoplexy
during the festivities, and his son brought him back to the Chateau
d'Azan, and buried him there with due honor, and mourned for him
as was fitting. Thus Albert, third Baron d'Azan, entered upon his
inheritance.
It seemed, at first, to consist mainly of debts. These were paid by
the sale of the deforested lands and of certain detached woodlands.
By the same method, much as he disliked it, he made a modest
provision of money for continuing his education and beginning his
travels. He knew that he had much to learn of the world, and he
was especially desirous of pursuing his favorite study of botany,
which a wise old priest at Louvain had taught him to love. So he
engaged an intelligent and faithful forester to care for the trees
and the estate, closed the house, and set forth on his journeys.
They led him far and wide.
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