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declined to accept； I should break off the whole thing。 I had to
threaten a rupture to get his permission to pay his debts。
This long confession has tired me。 I shall finish it the day after
to…morrow； I have to spend to…morrow in the country。
October 20th。
I will tell you now the steps I have taken to insure secrecy。 My
object has been to ward off every possible incitement to my ever…
wakeful jealousy； in imitation of the Italian princess； who； like a
lioness rushing on her prey； carried it off to some Swiss town to
devour in peace。 And I confide my plans to you because I have another
favor to beg； namely； that you will respect our solitude and never
come to see us uninvited。
Two years ago I purchased a small property overlooking the ponds of
Ville d'Avray； on the road to Versailles。 It consists of twenty acres
of meadow land； the skirts of a wood； and a fine fruit garden。 Below
the meadows the land has been excavated so as to make a lakelet of
about three acres in extent； with a charming little island in the
middle。 The small valley is shut in by two graceful； thickly…wooded
slopes； where rise delicious springs that water my park by means of
channels cleverly disposed by my architect。 Finally； they fall into
the royal ponds； glimpses of which can be seen here and there；
gleaming in the distance。 My little park has been admirably laid out
by the architect； who has surrounded it by hedges； walls； or ha…has；
according to the lie of the land； so that no possible point of view
may be lost。
A chalet has been built for me half…way up the hillside； with a
charming exposure； having the woods of the Ronce on either side； and
in front a grassy slope running down to the lake。 Externally the
chalet is an exact copy of those which are so much admired by
travelers on the road from Sion to Brieg； and which fascinated me when
I was returning from Italy。 The internal decorations will bear
comparison with those of the most celebrated buildings of the kind。
A hundred paces from this rustic dwelling stands a charming and
ornamental house； communicating with it by a subterranean passage。
This contains the kitchen； and other servants' rooms； stables； and
coach…houses。 Of all this series of brick buildings； the facade alone
is seen； graceful in its simplicity； against a background of
shrubbery。 Another building serves to lodge the gardeners and masks
the entrance to the orchards and kitchen…gardens。
The entrance gate to the property is so hidden in the wall dividing
the park from the wood as almost to defy detection。 The plantations；
already well grown； will； in two or three years； completely hide the
buildings； so that； except in winter； when the trees are bare； no
trace of habitation will appear to the outside world； save only the
smoke visible from the neighboring hills。
The surroundings of my chalet have been modeled on what is called the
King's Garden at Versailles； but it has an outlook on my lakelet and
island。 The hills on every side display their abundant foliagethose
splendid trees for which your new civil list has so well cared。 My
gardeners have orders to cultivate new sweet…scented flowers to any
extent； and no others； so that our home will be a fragrant emerald。
The chalet； adorned with a wild vine which covers the roof； is
literally embedded in climbing plants of all kindshops； clematis；
jasmine； azalea； copaea。 It will be a sharp eye which can descry our
windows！
The chalet； my dear； is a good； solid house； with its heating system
and all the conveniences of modern architecture； which can raise a
palace in the compass of a hundred square feet。 It contains a suite of
rooms for Gaston and another for me。 The ground…floor is occupied by
an ante…room； a parlor； and a dining room。 Above our floor again are
three rooms destined for the nurseries。 I have five first…rate horses；
a small light coupe； and a two…horse cabriolet。 We are only forty…
minutes' drive from Paris； so that； when the spirit moves us to hear
an opera or see a new play； we can start after dinner and return the
same night to our bower。 The road is a good one； and passes under the
shade of our green dividing wall。
My servantscook； coachman； groom； and gardeners； in addition to my
maidare all very respectable people； whom I have spent the last six
months in picking up； and they will be superintended by my old
Philippe。 Although confident of their loyalty and good faith； I have
not neglected to cultivate self…interest； their wages are small； but
will receive an annual addition in the shape of a New Year's Day
present。 They are all aware that the slightest fault； or a mere
suspicion of gossiping； might lose them a capital place。 Lovers are
never troublesome to their servants； they are indulgent by
disposition； and therefore I feel that I can reckon on my household。
All that is choice； pretty； or decorative in my house in the Rue du
Bac has been transported to the chalet。 The Rembrandt hangs on the
staircase； as though it were a mere daub； the Hobbema faces the Rubens
in /his/ study； the Titian； which my sister…in…law Mary sent me from
Madrid； adorns the boudoir。 The beautiful furniture picked up by
Felipe looks very well in the parlor； which the architect has
decorated most tastefully。 Everything at the chalet is charmingly
simple； with the simplicity which can't be got under a hundred
thousand francs。 Our ground…floor rests on cellars； which are built of
millstone and embedded in concrete； it is almost completely buried in
flowers and shrubs； and is deliciously cool without a vestige of damp。
To complete the picture； a fleet of white swans sail over my lake！
Oh！ Renee； the silence which reigns in this valley would bring joy to
the dead！ One is awakened by the birds singing or the breeze rustling
in the poplars。 A little spring； discovered by the architect in
digging the foundations of the wall； trickles down the hillside over
silvery sand to the lake； between two banks of water…cress； hugging
the edge of the woods。 I know nothing that money can buy to equal it。
May not Gaston come to loathe this too perfect bliss？ I shudder to
think how complete it is； for the ripest fruits harbor the worms； the
most gorgeous flowers attract the insects。 Is it not ever the monarch
of the forest which is eaten away by the fatal brown grub； greedy as
death？ I have learned before now that an unseen and jealous power
attacks happiness which has reached perfection。 Besides； this is the
moral of all your preaching； and you have been proved a prophet。
When I went； the day before yesterday； to see whether my last whim had
been carried out； tears rose to my eyes； and； to the great surprise of
my architect； I at once passed his account for payment。
〃But； madame；〃 he exclaimed； 〃your man of business will refuse to pay
this； it is a matter of three hundred thousand francs。〃 My only reply
was to add the words； 〃To be paid without question；〃 with the bearing
of a seventeenth…century Chaulieu。
〃But；〃 I said； 〃there is one condition to my gratitude。 No human being
must hear from you of the park and buildings。 Promise me； on your
honor； to observe this article in our contr