[12]
[Footnote 12: "Vigneul de Marville," to whom we owe some
picturesque impressions of La Bruyere at this time of social
obscurity, was one of the pseudonyms of Bonaventure
d'Argonne, whose real name appears to have been Noel
Argonne. He was a Carthusian who dabbled in literature, and
who towards the close of his career compiled a volume of
"Melanges," containing anecdotes which are often spiteful,
but sometimes useful to the historian of literature. He
seems to have visited La Bruyere in the days of his
comparative poverty, when his mother kept home for the whole
family, first in the Rue Chapon, and later in the Rue des
Grands Augustins.]
When he is on the point of entering his fortieth year, La Bruyere
suddenly breaks out of the cloud which encompasses him, and is
revealed as professor of history to the Duke of Bourbon, and resident
in the household of the great Prince de Conde. There is no evidence to
show how Bossuet, then Bishop of Meaux, and the most influential man
of intellect in France, became acquainted with the discreet and
obscure treasurer of finances; but it is evident that he was struck by
the vast learning and intelligence of this silent, smiling anchorite.
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