There are all sorts of interesting pictures and engravings scattered about the house in the numberless corridors and anterooms.  One most interesting and very rare print represents a review at Potsdam held by Frederick the Great.  Two conspicuous figures are the young Marquis de Lafayette in powdered wig and black silk ribbon, and the English General Lord Cornwallis, destined to meet as adversaries many years later during the American Revolution.  There are many family pictures on the great stone staircase, both French and English, the Marquis de Lasteyrie, on the maternal side, being a great-grandson of the Duke of Leinster.  Some of the English portraits are very charming, quite different from the French pictures.

In the centre panel is the well-known portrait of Lafayette by Ary Scheffer—­not in uniform—­no trace of the dashing young soldier; a middle-aged man in a long fur coat, hat and stick in his hand; looking, as one can imagine he did when he settled down, after his brilliant and eventful career, to the simple patriarchal life at La Grange, surrounded by devoted children, grandchildren, and friends.

We were interrupted long before I had seen all the interesting part of the house and its contents, as it was time to start for La Houssaye, where all the party were expected at tea.  We went off in three carriages—­quite like a “noce,” as the Marquise remarked.  The drive (about an hour) was not particularly interesting.  We were in the heart of the great agricultural district and drove through kilometres of planted fields—­no hills and few woods.

We came rather suddenly on the chateau, which stands low, like all chateaux surrounded by moats, turning directly from the little village into the park, which is beautifully laid out with fine old trees.  We had glimpses of a lovely garden as we drove up to the house, and of two old towers—­one round and one square.  The chateau stands well—­a very broad moat, almost a river, running straight around the house and gardens.  We crossed the drawbridge, which always gives me a sensation of old feudal times and recalls the days of my childhood when I used to sit under the sickle-pear tree at “Cherry Lawn” reading Scott’s “Marmion”—­“Up drawbridge, grooms—­what, Warder, ho!  Let the portcullis fall!” wondering what a “portcullis” was, and if I should ever see one or even a chateau-fort.

La Houssaye is an old castle built in the eleventh century, but has passed through many vicissitudes.  All that remains of the original building are the towers and the foundations.  It was restored in the sixteenth century and has since remained unchanged.  During the French Revolution the family of the actual proprietor installed themselves in one of the towers and lived there many long weary weeks, never daring to venture out, show any lights, or give any sign of life—­in daily terror of being discovered and dragged to Paris before the dreaded revolutionary tribunals.  Later it was given, by Napoleon, to the Marshall Augereau, who died there.  It has since been in the family of the present proprietor, Monsieur de Mimont, who married an American, Miss Forbes.