They told me many interesting things, too long to write, about the last years of Lafayette’s life spent principally at La Grange.  A charming account of that time and the lavish hospitality of the chateau is given by Lady Morgan, in her well-known “Diary.”  Some of her descriptions are most amusing; the arrival, for instance, of Lady Holland at the home of the Republican General.  “She is always preceded by a fourgon from London containing her own favourite meubles of Holland House—­her bed, fauteuil, carpet, etc., and divers other articles too numerous to mention, but which enter into her Ladyship’s superfluchoses tres necessaires, at least to a grande dame one of her female attendants and a groom of the chambers precede her to make all ready for her reception.  However, her original manner, though it startles the French ladies, amuses them.”

Her Irish ladyship (Lady Morgan) seems to have been troubled by no shyness in asking questions of the General.  She writes:  “Is it true, General, I asked, that you once went to a bal masque at the opera with the Queen of France—­Marie Antoinette—­leaning on your arm, the King knowing nothing of the matter till her return?  I am afraid so, said he.  She was so indiscreet, and I can conscientiously add—­so innocent.  However, the Comte d’Artois was also of the party, and we were all young, enterprising, and pleasure-loving.  But what is most absurd in the adventure was that, when I pointed out Mme. du Barry to her—­whose figure and favourite domino I knew—­the Queen expressed the most anxious desire to hear her speak and bade me intriguer her.  She answered me flippantly, and I am sure if I had offered her my other arm, the Queen would not have objected to it.  Such was the esprit d’aventure at that time in the court of Versailles and in the head of the haughty daughter of Austria.”

I remember quite well the parents of my host.  The Marquise, a type of the grande dame, with blue eyes and snow white hair survived her husband many years.  During the war of 1870 they, like many other chatelains, had Prussian soldiers in their house.  The following characteristic anecdote of the Marquise was told to me by her son: 

“There are still to be seen at La Grange two little cannon which had been given to Lafayette by the Garde Nationale.  One December morning, in 1870, when the house was full of German troops, Madame de Lasteyrie was awakened by a noise under the archway, and looking out of her window saw, in the dim light, the two guns being carried off by the German soldiers.  In an instant, her bare feet hastily thrust into slippers, her hair like a long white mane hanging down her back, with a dressing gown thrown over her shoulders, she started in pursuit.  She followed them about three miles and at last came upon them at the top of a hill.  After much persuasion and after spiking the guns (in no case could they have done great damage), the soldiers were induced to give them up, and departed, leaving her alone in the frost and starlight waiting for the morning.  She sat bare-footed (for she had lost her shoes) but triumphant on her small cannon in the deep snow till the day came and the farm people stole out and dragged them all—­the old lady and the two guns—­back to the house.”