Bridge over Little Cascade
Following the man’s direction, we turned to the right and walked over a small rustic bridge which crossed a tiny waterfall coming from above us, on our right hand, and flowing in front of a little rocky cliff with ferns growing in the crevices. The water seemed to have formed a steep narrow little ravine, which shelved away below us to a little glimmering pool.
Neither bridge, nor cascade, nor ravine can be found, or anything suggesting them. In 1905 the person in charge at the house assured Miss Lamont that there never had been more than one cascade, meaning the rush of water under the Rocher bridge. The Rocher bridge is certainly not the one we crossed, which was high above the level of the lakes.
In 1907 we bought Souvenirs d’un Page by the Comte D’Hezecques. He says: “En face du chateau, une pelouse ... se terminait par une roche ombragée de pins, de thuyas, de mélèzes, et surmontée d’un pont rustique, comme on en rencontre dans les montagnes de la Suisse et les précipices du Valais. Cette perspective agreste et sauvage rendait plus douce celle ... de la troisième façade du chateau.”[[53]]
He also speaks of water passing through the moss-lined grotto, which, according to our idea, must have been below us, but close by on our right hand.[[54]] Madame Lavergne writes of the “petite cascade” and of the sound of it in the grotto.[[55]]
In April, 1908, extracts from Mique’s accounts and plans for the Trianon grounds were procured from the archives, giving the history of the grottos. “Juin 4, 1780, fait un model en terre du ravin du petit pont.”[[56]] “1788, Pièce au dessus du Rocher du Ravin et ... passage des voitures sur le pont de bois ... Pièce à droite en face du Rocher du Ravin.”[[57]] “Au long du chemin de l’emplacement de la Ruine sur la conduitte en bois à la deuxième source du Ravin.”[[58]] The first source was probably close to the “Ruine” (our kiosk?). The second “source” might coincide with Desjardins’ “source,” which he places a few steps from the poulaillers,[[59]] and was probably meant to feed the “petite rivière,” which passed through the Queen’s grotto, carrying off the water from the stagnant pool between the grottos to the larger lake.[[60]] That would exactly agree with the position of our little cascade, small bridge, and glimmering pool.
In April, 1908, an old MS. map was found amongst such archive papers as relate to the grottos, showing a small bridge in the right position relatively to the lakes, the Rocher bridge, and the place where we believe the Queen’s grotto to have been.