Map is taken from Cesar-Francois Cassini's Carte de Cassini (1789)
Adeline's Visits to Paris: fleeting "gaieties"
Adeline begins her journey in a convent in Paris at age 7. When she turns 12, she moves to a different convent in the same city. Adeline leaves this convent upon her refusal to become a nun, and her father disgruntedly arrives to take her away. They drive "upon a gloomy and unfrequented road" and finally, "a few leagues on the other side of Paris," they "reach a wild heath." Her father's house, which is "a few leagues on the other side of Paris," is described as a "lone house on the waste" (36).
Because this is the house at which La Motte arrives while travelling south toward Lyon, and, because the house was "on the other side of Paris" from the convent, it can be presumed that Adeline's convent was on the north side of the city.
The second time Adeline is in Paris comes later in the novel, after she escapes from the La Mottes and the Marquis, and travels to Vaceau to save Theodore from execution. Adeline's journey to Paris was prompted by Madame La Motte's letter telling her that "her immediate presence was requisite to substantiate evidence, and probably to save the life of La Motte" (335). After quitting Theodore, Adeline leaves Vaceau and finally arrives in Paris "after a journey of several days" (338). As can be seen on this map, Vaceau, being on the edge of Spain, is a considerable distance from Paris (around 400 miles), and Radcliffe is realistic in her estimation of the amount of time it would take to arrive there. The journey, travelling by horse and carriage at approximately 5 miles per hour, ten hours per day, would have taken them between nine to 10 days--"several," indeed.
During this second trip to Paris, Adeline discovers the truth of her lineage, sees a picture of her mother for the first time, learns of the Marquis' death, receives a last name ("Adeline de Montalt"), and bids farewell to La Motte who "[leaves] Paris for England, where it was his design to settle" (338-354).
Adeline departs Paris for the Abbey of St. Clair to collect the remains of her father for a proper burial.
When she returns to Paris a third time, Theodore awaits her, and it is here that she allows the full force of her feelings to manifest. "She now received [Theodore] as the friend to whom she was indebted for her preservation, and as the lover who deserved, and possessed, her tenderest affection" (355). Theodore is required to depart Paris to join his regiment, though he is certain of wedding her thereafter, and Adeline--because of the poor health of La Luc--joins him in Montpellier. She never returns to Paris, whose "splendid gaieties...were very inferior temptations to the sweet domestic pleasures and refined society which Leloncourt would afford" (358).
The final time Paris is mentioned in the novel is upon the group's return to Leloncourt. Peter cries, upon seeing them again: "Here is the village, God bless! It is worth a million such places as Paris" (360).
Because this is the house at which La Motte arrives while travelling south toward Lyon, and, because the house was "on the other side of Paris" from the convent, it can be presumed that Adeline's convent was on the north side of the city.
The second time Adeline is in Paris comes later in the novel, after she escapes from the La Mottes and the Marquis, and travels to Vaceau to save Theodore from execution. Adeline's journey to Paris was prompted by Madame La Motte's letter telling her that "her immediate presence was requisite to substantiate evidence, and probably to save the life of La Motte" (335). After quitting Theodore, Adeline leaves Vaceau and finally arrives in Paris "after a journey of several days" (338). As can be seen on this map, Vaceau, being on the edge of Spain, is a considerable distance from Paris (around 400 miles), and Radcliffe is realistic in her estimation of the amount of time it would take to arrive there. The journey, travelling by horse and carriage at approximately 5 miles per hour, ten hours per day, would have taken them between nine to 10 days--"several," indeed.
During this second trip to Paris, Adeline discovers the truth of her lineage, sees a picture of her mother for the first time, learns of the Marquis' death, receives a last name ("Adeline de Montalt"), and bids farewell to La Motte who "[leaves] Paris for England, where it was his design to settle" (338-354).
Adeline departs Paris for the Abbey of St. Clair to collect the remains of her father for a proper burial.
When she returns to Paris a third time, Theodore awaits her, and it is here that she allows the full force of her feelings to manifest. "She now received [Theodore] as the friend to whom she was indebted for her preservation, and as the lover who deserved, and possessed, her tenderest affection" (355). Theodore is required to depart Paris to join his regiment, though he is certain of wedding her thereafter, and Adeline--because of the poor health of La Luc--joins him in Montpellier. She never returns to Paris, whose "splendid gaieties...were very inferior temptations to the sweet domestic pleasures and refined society which Leloncourt would afford" (358).
The final time Paris is mentioned in the novel is upon the group's return to Leloncourt. Peter cries, upon seeing them again: "Here is the village, God bless! It is worth a million such places as Paris" (360).
