attered myself I had caught the tone and manner in which M. de
Voltaire had addressed me: he perceived my intention, and was delighted
with the flattering deference it expressed. You know the vanity of
men of letters; and M. de Voltaire, as the first writer of the age,
possessed, in proportion, the largest portion of conceit.

CHAPTER XXVIII

A few words respecting Jean Jacques Rousseau--The comtesse
du Barry is desirous of his acquaintance--The countess
visits Jean Jacques Rousseau--His household furniture--His
portrait--Therese--second visit from madame du Barry to Jean
Jacques Rousseau--The countess relates her visit to the
king--Billet from J. J. Rousseau to madame du Barry--The two
duchesses d'Aiguillon

Spite of the little estimation in which I held men of letters, generally
speaking, you must not take it for granted that I entertained an equal
indifference for all these gentlemen. I have already, I fear, tired your
patience when dwelling upon my ardent admiration of M. de Voltaire; I
have now to speak to you of that with which his illustrious rival, Jean
Jacques Rousseau, inspired me--the man who, after a life so filled
with constant trouble and misfortunes, died a few years since in so
deplorable a manner. At the period of which I am now speaking this man,
who had filled Europe with his fame, was living at Paris, in a state
bordering upon indigence. I must here mention, that it was owing to
my solicitation that he had been permitted to return from his exile,
I having successfully interceded for him with the chancellor and the
attorney-general. M. Seguier made no difficulty to my request, because
he looked upon Jean Jacques Rousseau as the greatest enemy to a set of
men whom he mortally hated--the philosophers. Neither did M. de Maupeou,
from the moment he effected the overthrow of the parliament, see any
objection to bestowing his protection upon a man whom the parliaments
had exiled. In this manner, therefore, without his being aware of it,
Rousseau owed to me the permission to re-enter Paris. Spite of the
mortifying terms in which this celebrated writer had spoken of the
king's mistresses, I had a lively curiosity to know him; all that his
enemies repeated of his uncouthness, and even of his malicious nature,
far from weakening the powerful interest with which he inspired me,
rather augmented it, by strengthening the idea I had previously formed
of his having been gr