human
May I ask, Madame, whether this palm-tree was truly planted by the Père Antoine?
gpt
Ah, Monsieur, there are many droll stories which they relate of that tree. There are folks who say that a young girl was interred there, and it is also said that a Sultan was buried under that tree--or the son of a Sultan. And there are also some who say that a priest planted it.
human
Was it the Père Antoine, Madame?
gpt
I do not know, Monsieur. There are people also who say that it was planted here by Indians from Florida. But I do not know whether such trees grow in Florida. I have never seen any other palm-tree like it. It is not a date-palm. It flowers every year, with a beautiful yellow blossom the colour of straw, and the blossoms hang down in pretty curves. Oh, it is very graceful! Sometimes it bears fruit, a kind of oily fruit, but not dates. I am told that they make oil from the fruit of such palms.
human
Is it true, Madame, that the owner of the land loses it if he cuts down the tree?
gpt
Why, I exclaimed,
human
gpt
It was in 1679, I believe,