IN THE GAP

I expect today to be a busy one without much opportunity for writing anything, but I do want to add to the current topic a bit more. When there is time, I hope to copy a few paragraphs giving details of Robert de Launay’s actual homecoming, but at this time, a bit more about Rose-Helene’s growing up.

She learned and spoke both English and French from hearing her parents use them. We do not know about her schooling, but at some point, she picked up a third language. It might have been Italian, for we know it was not German or Russian. She wanted to work as an interpreter at the United Nations, but when she applied for such a position, learned she had to master a fourth language for the job. Vail hinted at no great desire of Rose-Helene’s studying Russian. I do not know if she ever did take up a fourth language or if she actually worked for the UN, but she did land in New York, as the above letter from Vail verifies.

I have often wondered if Rose-Helene inherited the family estate, known as L’Ormeau in the book, but really Chateau de Launay. She seems to have been Robert and Margaret’s only child. According to the Internet, some of the chateaus became hotels. Margaret sent me a snapshot of the four-story L’Ormeau set back from the camera position with a vast lawn.

Time now for breakfast.

♥