Kasteel en Tuinen van Freÿr / Maas (België)

Irreverent to the Reverent Father

• Theodule was the youngest of the seven children of Camille of Laubespin and Gilda of Beaufort-Spontin. He was the pet of his mother, who often took him along with her; a situation unfavorable to his studies.
• One day, Théodule was in the boat in the middle of the Meuse with his tutor; the latter requested of the former to row towards the edge of the river.
  • Théodule replied: "Why do you not row My Reverend Father?"
  • The priest answered: "But, Théodule, you know well that I do not know how to row".
  • Théodule retorted: "Good, I will row to the bank, but as I am no expert in Latin, tomorrow, My Revered Father, you will practise this language alone!"
• Louise of Coulonges, Théodule's wife had a quite different temper.
  • At 90 years, she continued to climb on her ladder to collect flowers of orange trees (so as to make sweets).
  • She complained that her lady's companion 70 years old did not hold the ladder properly any more: "Ah this poor Maria, she is getting old!"