THE ENIGMA OF AUDUBON'S LIFE 269 



speak of you, and is as much astonished as I am that we re- 

 ceive no news of you. 



The naturalist's elder son, Victor, visited Coueron 

 about the year 1835, when his cousin, Gabriel Loyen du 

 Puigaudeau the second, who was nearly of the same age, 

 returned from military service to meet him. He was 

 disappointed at the appearance of his father's old home, 

 "La Gerbetiere," which had not been occupied by the 

 family for fifteen years. 12 



Rosa Audubon du Puigaudeau, the naturalist's sis- 

 ter, died at "Les Tourterelles" after August 3, 1842, 

 leaving a daughter, Rose du Puigaudeau, who died 

 without issue, October 20, 1881, and, if we are correctly 

 informed, one son, Gabriel Loyen du Puigaudeau the 

 second, who died at "Les Tourterelles," Coueron, June 

 23, 1892, when past his eightieth year; a daughter of 

 this only son was married to Monsieur L. Lavigne, 

 notary at Coueron. At the time of her uncle's death, 

 his property, including the personal records of Lieuten- 

 ant Jean Audubon, passed into the hands of Madame 

 Lavigne, who is a grand step-niece of the naturalist, and 

 who aside from her children, so far as known, is the 

 only surviving member of his family in France. 



At this point we must examine a little more care- 

 fully the peculiar status of what Audubon referred to 



12 It was thought that Victor had come to settle the family's financial 

 affairs, and his uncle and aunt asked if this were the case; he replied 

 that it was not, that the children of Jean Audubon who were in America 

 had taken their [share of the] property in that country, while those in 

 France had theirs in France; he considered that all was settled, but if 

 Rosa's children wished for any money, they had but to ask for it, and 

 the heirs in America would send them what they desired; the subject 

 was then dropped. A considerable correspondence followed this visit, but 

 the letters were all destroyed about twenty-five years ago by Monsieur du 

 Puigaudeau, when putting his effects in order. This account is given on 

 the authority of Monsieur Lavigne. 



