At
the end of the eight days I repaired early as before to Paris;
the duke was not long in joining me there. He was so inimitably
well disguised, that no person would ever have detected the most
elegant nobleman of the court of France beneath the garb of a
plain country squire. We set out laughing. like simpletons at
the easy air with which he wore his new costume; nevertheless
our gaiety disappeared as we reached the habitation of J. J.
Rousseau. Spite of ourselves we were compelled to honour and
respect the man of talent and genius, who preferred independence
of ideas to riches, and before whom rank and power were compelled
to lay aside their unmeaning trappings ere they could reach his
presence. When we reached the fifth landing-place I rang, and
this time the door was opened by Therese, who told us M Rousseau
was out.
"But, madam," answered I, "I am here by 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.
Pages:
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392