"
"Oh, be assured of my discretion," said I; "I promise you not to
publish your secret" (which, by the way, I was very certain was
not communicated for the first time when told to me).
This confidence on the part of the marechale had, in some
unaccountable manner, only increased the ardent desire I felt
to see the author of the "
"; and I observed
to madame de Mirepoix, that I had a great curiosity to be
introduced to Rousseau.
"I fear," said she, "you will never be able to persuade him to
visit at the chateau."
"How then can I accomplish my desire of seeing this celebrated man?"
"By one simple method; if he will not come to you, you must go
to him. I would willingly accompany you, but he knows me, and
my presence would spoil all. The best thing you can do is to
dress yourself quite plainly, as a lady from the country, taking
with you one of your female attendants. You may take as a
pretext for your visit some music you would wish to have copied.
Be sure to treat M. de Rousseau as a mere copyist, and appear
never to have heard of his superior merit: do this, and you will
receive the best possible reception."
I greatly approved of the marechale 's advice, which I assured
her I would delay no longer than till the following day to put
into practice; and, after some further conversation upon
J.
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