the direction of your husband to
fetch away the music he has been engaged in copying for me."

"Ah, madam," exclaimed she, "is it you? I did not recollect you again;
pray walk in. M. Rousseau will be sure to be at home for you."

"So, then," thought I, "even genius has its visiting lists." We entered;
Jean Jacques formally saluted us, and invited us to be seated. He then
gave me my music; I inquired what it came to; he consulted a little
memorandum which lay upon the table, and replied, "So many pages, so
much paper, eighteen livres twelve sous;" which, of course, I instantly
paid. The duc d'Aiguillon, whom I styled my uncle, was endeavoring to
lead Rousseau into conversation, when the outer bell rang. Therese went
to open the door, and a gentleman entered, of mature age, although
still preserving his good looks. The duke regarded him in silence and
immediately made signs for me to hasten our departure; I obeyed, and
took leave of Rousseau, with many thanks his punctuality. He accompanied
us as before to door, and there I quitted him never to see him more. As
we were descending the staircase, M. d'Aiguillon told me that the person
who had so hastened our departure was Duclas, and that his hurry to quit
Rousseau arose from his dread of being recognised by him. Although M.
Duclas was a very excellent man, I must own that I owed no small grudge
for a visit which had thus abridged ours.

In the evening the duc d'Aiguillon and myself related to the king our
morning's pilgrimage. I likewise recounted my former visit, which I had
concealed until now. Louis XV seemed greatly interested with the recital
of it; he asked me a thousand questions, and would fain hear the most
trifling particulars.

"I shall never forget," said Louis XV, "the amazing success obtained by
his '_Devin du Village._' There certainly were some beautiful airs", and
the king began to hum over the song of

"_J'ai perdu tout mon bonheur._"

"Yes, madam," continued his majesty, "I promise you, that had Rousseau
after his success chosen to step forward as a candidate for public
favour, he would soon have overthrown Voltaire."

"Pardon me," replied I; "but I cannot believe that would have been
possible under any circumstances."

"And why not?" asked the king; "he was a man of great talent."

"Doubtless, sire, but not of the kind to compete with Voltaire."

The king then changed the conversation to Therese, inquiring whether she
possessed any attra