Let us seek some little habitation, far enough from the
town to be at peace, yet near enough to return when it may appear
convenient."
This mode was finally adopted; and after some small search, we fixed
at Charmettes, on an estate belonging to M. de Conzie, at a very small
distance from Chambery; but as retired and solitary as if it had
been a hundred leagues off. The spot we had concluded on was a
valley between two tolerably high hills, which ran north and south; at
the bottom, among the trees and pebbles, ran a rivulet, and above
the declivity, on either side, were scattered a number of houses,
forming altogether a beautiful retreat for those who love a peaceful
romantic asylum. After having examined two or three of these houses,
we chose that which we thought the most pleasing, which was the
property of a gentleman of the army, called M. Noiret. This house
was in good condition, before it a garden, forming a terrace; below
that on the declivity an orchard, and on the ascent, behind the house,
a vineyard: a little wood of chestnut trees opposite; a fountain
just by, and higher up the hill, meadows for the cattle; in short, all
that could be thought necessary for the country retirement we proposed
to establish. To the best of my remembrance, we took possession of
it towards the latter end of the summer of 1736. I was delighted on
going to sleep there- "Oh!" said I, to this dear friend, embracing her
with tears of tenderness and delight, "this is the abode of
happiness and innocence; if we do not find them here together it
will be in vain to seek them elsewhere.
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