"LA GERBETIERE" 141 



"La Gerbetiere" is now a small estate of less than 

 fifty ares, or one and a half acres, of land. The build- 

 ings, which form a quadrangle with enclosed court, oc- 

 cupy a corner next the side street, and stand about 200 

 feet back from the main highway leading from Coueron 

 to Port Launay. The extent of the original property 

 cannot now be determined, but Lieutenant Audubon, 

 who retired at the age of fifty-seven, was never a farmer 

 on a large scale. The original house, which probably 

 dates from early in the eighteenth century, has an east- 

 erly wing or L, continued into a long, low section 

 through which the court is now entered from the road at 

 the side ; this was probably added by Jean Audubon, but 

 the westerly end and wing are a more modern accretion, 

 built for the accommodation of additional tenants, as 

 many as three families having occupied the place in 



1857. 



"La Gerbetiere" was entered from the main street 

 by a small door which pierces the high enclosing wall, 

 and leads the visitor into what was formerly an orna- 

 mental garden, the original design of which can still be 

 traced. At the time of my visit, however, this entrance 

 had long ceased to be an avenue of response. Encour- 

 aged by the sight of a peddler's cart, I walked up the 

 side street and entered the court. Here the response 

 was prompt and vigorous enough, and from the guard- 

 ians of the place, one of which was chafing at his chain 

 close to the doorway. I crossed rather gingerly to an 

 open hallway, opposite the main entrance, and knocked 

 repeatedly, noting here that rooms opened to this small 

 entrance hall on either side, and that a steep stairway 

 led to others above. At last, during a temporary lull 

 in the barking of dogs, the "tok-tok" of sabots was 

 heard on the stairs, and I handed up my card with one 



