Then he took a slow breath, and his tone changed.

He told me the farmland market was exceptionally hot this quarter.

He said demand from corporate buyers was driving prices up every single week.

I asked him about the handwritten letter he had just sent me about the lilac bushes.

He said he liked to keep up appearances and stay on good terms with the local neighbors.

He admitted he had never intended to keep the farm as a private hunting retreat.

He had bought it from my father-in-law because the private price was far below market value.