Settles in the French country (4)
I believe the answer is:
pays
This clue is a double definition.
'settles' is the first definition.
(paying is a kind of settling)
'the french country' is the second definition.
(I've seen this before)
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for pays that I've seen before include "Foots the bill" , "Forks out" , "Imburses" , "Hollande's country" , "stumps up" .)