ft over from my work I now spent in a most
agreeable manner. From the age of fifteen I had been going out into
the best society; and I knew all the celebrated artists, so that I
received invitations from all sides. I very well remember the first
time I dined in town with the sculptor Le Moine, who was then enjoying
a great reputation. It was there I met the famous actor Lekain, who
struck terror into my heart because of his wild and sinister
appearance; his huge eyebrows only added to the fierce expression of
his face. He scarcely talked at all, and ate enormously. At Le Moine's
I made the acquaintance of Gerbier, the noted advocate, and of his
daughter Mme. de Roissy, who was very beautiful, and one of the first
women I made a portrait of. Gretry and Latour, an eminent pastellist,
often came to these dinners at Le Moine's, which were highly convivial
and amusing. It was then the custom to sing at dessert. When the turn
of the young ladies came--to whom, I must admit, this custom was
torture--they would turn pale and tremble all over, and consequently
often sing very much out of tune. In spite of these dissonances, the
dinners ended pleasantly, and we always rose from the table with
regret, although we did not immediately order our carriages, as the
fashion is to-day.

I cannot, however, speak of the dinners of the present day excepting
through hearsay, in view of the fact that soon after the time I have
just mentioned I stopped dining in town for good. A slight adventure I
had made me determine to go out only in the evening. I had accepted an
invitation to dine with Princess Rohan-Rochefort. All dressed and
ready to get into my carriage, I was seized with a sudden desire to
take a look at a portrait that I had begun that same morning. I had on
a white satin dress, which I was wearing for the first time. I sat
down on my chair opposite my easel without noticing that my palette
was lying on the chair. It may readily be conceived that the state of
my gown was such as to compel me to remain at home, and I resolved
thenceforth to accept no invitations excepting to supper.

The dinners of Princess Rohan-Rochefort were delightful. The nucleus
of the society was composed of the handsome Countess de Brionne and
her daughter the Princess Lorraine, the Duke de Choiseul, the Cardinal
de Rohan, and M. de Rulhieres, the author of the "Disputes"; but the
most agreeable without question of all the guests was the Duke de
Lauzun; no o