"
"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.
Pages:
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412