Early next morning the search was renewed with zeal.  We climbed the mountain-side, in the rear of the town, among vines, orchards, hamlets, terraces castles, and villas, to see one of the latter, which was refused on account of its remoteness from the lake.  We then went to see a spot that was the very beau ideal of an abode for people like ourselves, who were out in quest of the picturesque.  It is called the Chateau of Piel, a small hamlet, immediately on the shore of the lake, and quite near Vevey, while it is perfectly retired.  The house is spacious, reasonably comfortable, and had some fine old towers built into the modern parts, a detached ruin, and a long narrow terrace, under the windows, that overhung the blue Leman, and which faced the glorious rocks of Savoy.  Our application for their residence was also refused, on account of the shortness of the time we intended to remain.[33]

[Footnote 33:  It is not easy for the writer to speak of many personal incidents, lest the motive might be mistaken, in a country where there are so many always disposed to attach a base one if they can; but, it is so creditable to the advanced state of European civilization and intelligence, that, at any hazard, he will here say, that even his small pretensions to literary reputation frequently were of great service to him, and, in no instance, even in those countries whose prejudices be had openly opposed, had he any reason to believe it was of any personal disadvantage.  This feeling prevailed at the English custom-houses, at the bureaux all over the Continent, and frequently even at the inns.  In one instance, in Italy, an apartment that had been denied, was subsequently offered to him on his own terms, on this account; and, on the present occasion, the proprietor of the Chateau de Piel, who resided at Geneva, sent a handsome expression of his regret that his agent should have thought it necessary to deny the application of a gentleman of his pursuits.  Even the cow-chaser paid a similar homage to letters.  In short, let the truth be said, the only country in which the writer has found his pursuits a disadvantage, is his own.]

We had in reserve, all this time, two or three regular maisons meublees in the town itself, and finally took refuge in one called “Mon repos,” which stands quite near the lake, and in a retired corner of the place.  A cook was engaged forthwith, and in less than twenty-four hours after entering Vevey, we had set up our household gods, and were to be reckoned among them who boiled our pot in the commune.  This was not quite as prompt as the proceedings had been at Spa; but here we had been bothered by the picturesque, while at Spa we consulted nothing but comfort.  Our house was sufficiently large, perfectly clean, and, though without carpets or mats, things but little used in Switzerland, quite as comfortable as was necessary for a travelling bivouac.  The price was sixty dollars a month, including plate and linen.  Of course it might have been got at a much lower rate, had we taken it by the year.