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and long to get back to the endless； exciting scenes of Paris and its
harrowing strifes。
The long letter of the young journalist must make most intelligent
minds suppose that he had reached； morally and physically； that
particular phase of satisfied passions and comfortable happiness which
certain winged creatures fed in Strasbourg so perfectly represent
when； with their heads sunk behind their protruding gizzards； they
neither see nor wish to see the most appetizing food。 So； when the
formidable letter was finished； the writer felt the need of getting
away from the gardens of Armida and doing something to enliven the
deadly void of the morning hours； for the hours between breakfast and
dinner belonged to the mistress of the house； who knew very well how
to make them pass quickly。 To keep； as Madame de Montcornet did； a man
of talent in the country without ever seeing on his face the false
smile of satiety； or detecting the yawn of a weariness that cannot be
concealed； is a great triumph for a woman。 The affection which is
equal to such a test certainly ought to be eternal。 It is to be
wondered at that women do not oftener employ it to judge of their
lovers； a fool； an egoist； or a petty nature could never stand it。
Philip the Second himself； the Alexander of dissimulation； would have
told his secrets if condemned to a month's tete…a…tete in the country。
Perhaps this is why kings seek to live in perpetual motion； and allow
no one to see them more than fifteen minutes at a time。
Notwithstanding that he had received the delicate attentions of one of
the most charming women in Paris； Emile Blondet was able to feel once
more the long forgotten delights of a truant schoolboy； and on the
morning of the day after his letter was written he had himself called
by Francois； the head valet； who was specially appointed to wait on
him； for the purpose of exploring the valley of the Avonne。
The Avonne is a little river which； being swollen above Conches by
numerous rivulets； some of which rise in Les Aigues； falls at Ville…
aux…Fayes into one of the large affluents of the Seine。 The
geographical position of the Avonne； navigable for over twelve miles；
had； ever since Jean Bouvet invented rafts； given full money value to
the forests of Les Aigues； Soulanges； and Ronquerolles； standing on
the crest of the hills between which this charming river flows。 The
park of Les Aigues covers the greater part of the valley； between the
river （bordered on both sides by the forest called des Aigues） and the
royal mail road； defined by a line of old elms in the distance along
the slopes of the Avonne mountains； which are in fact the foot…hills
of that magnificent ampitheatre called the Morvan。
However vulgar the comparison may be； the park； lying thus at the
bottom of the valley； is like an enormous fish with its head at
Conches and its tail in the village of Blangy； for it widens in the
middle to nearly three hundred acres； while towards Conches it counts
less than fifty； and sixty at Blangy。 The position of this estate；
between three villages； and only three miles from the little town of
Soulanges； from which the descent is rapid； may perhaps have led to
the strife and caused the excesses which are the chief interest
attaching to the place。 If； when seen from the mail road or from the
uplands beyond Ville…aux…Fayes； the paradise of Les Aigues induces
mere passing travellers to commit the mortal sin of envy； why should
the rich burghers of Soulanges and Ville…aux…Fayes who had it before
their eyes and admired it every day of their lives； have been more
virtuous？
This last topographical detail was needed to explain the site； also
the use of the four gates by which alone the park of Les Aigues was
entered； for it was completely surrounded by walls； except where
nature had provided a fine view； and at such points sunk fences or ha…
has had been placed。 The four gates； called the gate of Conches； the
gate of Avonne； the gate of Blangy； and the gate of the Avenue； showed
the styles of the different periods at which they were constructed so
admirably that a brief description； in the interest of archaeologists；
will presently be given； as brief as the one Blondet has already
written about the gate of the Avenue。
After eight days of strolling about with the countess； the illustrious
editor of the 〃Journal des Debats〃 knew by heart the Chinese kiosk；
the bridges； the isles； the hermitage； the dairy； the ruined temple；
the Babylonian ice…house； and all the other delusions invented by
landscape architects which some nine hundred acres of land can be made
to serve。 He now wished to find the sources of the Avonne； which the
general and the countess daily extolled in the evening； making plans
to visit them which were daily forgotten the next morning。 Above Les
Aigues the Avonne really had the appearance of an alpine torrent。
Sometimes it hollowed a bed among the rocks； sometimes it went
underground； on this side the brooks came down in cascades； there they
flowed like the Loire on sandy shallows where rafts could not pass on
account of the shifting channels。 Blondet took a short cut through the
labyrinths of the park to reach the gate of Conches。 This gate demands
a few words； which give； moreover； certain historical details about
the property。
The original founder of Les Aigues was a younger son of the Soulanges
family； enriched by marriage； whose chief ambition was to make his
elder brother jealous；a sentiment； by the bye； to which we owe the
fairy…land of Isola Bella in the Lago Maggiore。 In the middle ages the
castle of Les Aigues stood on the banks of the Avonne。 Of this old
building nothing remains but the gateway； which has a porch like the
entrance to a fortified town； flanked by two round towers with conical
roofs。 Above the arch of the porch are heavy stone courses； now draped
with vegetation； showing three large windows with cross…bar sashes。 A
winding stairway in one of the towers leads to two chambers； and a
kitchen occupies the other tower。 The roof of the porch； of pointed
shape like all old timber…work； is noticeable for two weathercocks
perched at each end of a ridge…pole ornamented with fantastic iron…
work。 Many an important place cannot boast of so fine a town hall。 On
the outside of this gateway； the keystone of the arch still bears the
arms of Soulanges； preserved by the hardness of the stone on which the
chisel of the artist carved them； as follows： Azure； on a pale；
argent； three pilgrim's staff's sable； a fess bronchant； gules；
charged with four grosses patee； fitched； or； with the heraldic form
of a shield awarded to younger sons。 Blondet deciphered the motto； 〃Je
soule agir；〃one of those puns that crusaders delighted to make upon
their names； and which brings to mind a fine political maxim； which；
as we shall see later； was unfortunately forgotten by Montcornet。 The
gate； which was opened for Blondet by a very pr