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nearly concealed by the dirt which had been allowed to accumulate upon it; I could only distinguish that it was ornamented with a broad riband。 When I had sufficiently surveyed this chamber; the simplicity of which; so closely bordering on want and misery; pained me to the heart; I directed my attention to the extraordinary man who was the occasion of my visit。 He was of middle height; slightly bent by age; with a large and expansive chest; his features were common in their cast; but possessed of the most perfect regularity。 His eyes; which he from time to time raised from the music he was considering; were round and sparkling but small; and the heavy brows which hung over them; conveyed an idea of gloom and severity; but his mouth; which was certainly the most beautiful and fascinating in its expression I ever saw; soon removed this unfavourable impression。 Altogether there belonged to his countenance a smile of mixed sweetness and sadness; which bestowed on it an indescribable charm。
To complete my description; I must not forget to add his dress; which consisted of a dirty cotton cap; to which were fixed strings of a riband that had once been scarlet; a pelisse with arm…holes; a flannel waistcoat; snuff…coloured breeches; gray stockings; and shoes slipped down at the heel; after the fashion of slippers。 Such was the portrait; and such the abode of the man who believed himself to be one of the potentates of the earth and who; in fact; had once owned his little court and train of courtiers; for; in the century in which he lived; talent had become as arbitrary as sovereign powerthanks to the stupidity of some of our grandees and the caprice of Frederick of Prussia。
Meanwhile my host; undisturbed by my reflections; had quietly gone over his packet of music。 He found amongst it an air from 〃 ;〃 which I had purposely placed there; he half turned towards me and looking steadfastly at me; as if he would force the truth from my lips。
〃Madam;〃 said he; 〃do you know the author of this little composition?〃
〃Yes;〃 replied I; with an air of as great simplicity as I could assume; 〃it is written by a person of the same name as yourself; who writes books and composes operas。 Is he any relation to you?〃
My answer and question disarmed the suspicions of Jean Jacques; who was about to reply; but stopped himself; as if afraid of uttering a falsehood; and contented himself with smiling and casting down his eyes。 Taking courage from his silence; I ventured to add;〃The M。 de Rousseau who composed this pretty air has written much beautiful music and many very clever works。 Should I ever know the happiness of becoming a mother I shall owe to him the proper care and education of my child。〃 Rousseau made no reply; but he turned his eyes towards me; and at this moment the expression of his countenance was perfectly celestial; and I could readily imagine how easily he might have inspired a warmer sentiment than that of admiration。
Whilst we were conversing in this manner; a female; between the age of forty and fifty; entered the room。 She saluted me with great affectation of politeness; and then; without speaking to Rousseau; went and seated herself familiarly upon a chair on the other side of the table: this was Therese; a sort of factotum; who served the master of these apartments both as servant and mistress。 I could not help regarding this woman with a feeling of disgust; she had a horrible cough; which she told us was more than usually troublesome on that day。 I had heard of her avarice; therefore to prevent the appearance of having called upon an unprofitable errand; I inquired of Jean Jacques Rousseau how much the music would cost。
〃Six sous a page; madam;〃 replied he; 〃is the usual price。〃
〃Shall I; sir;〃 asked I; 〃leave you any cash in hand for the purchase of what paper you will require?〃
〃No; I thank you; madam;〃 replied Rousseau; smiling; 〃thank God! I am not yet so far reduced that I cannot purchase it for you。 I have a trifling annuity〃
〃And you would be a much richer man;〃 screamed Therese; 〃if you would insist upon those people at the opera paying you what they owe you。〃 These words were accompanied with a shrug of the shoulders; intended to convey a vast idea of her own opinion。
Rousseau made no reply; indeed he appeared to me like a frightened child in the presence of its nurse; and I could quickly see; that from the moment of her entering the room he had become restless and dejected; he fidgeted on his seat; and seemed like a person in excessive pain。 At length he rose; and requesting my pardon for absenting himself; he added; 〃My wife will have the honour to entertain you whilst I am away。〃 With these words he opened a small glass…door; and disappeared in the neighbouring room。
When we were alone with Therese; she lost no time in opening the conversation。
〃Madam;〃 cried she; 〃I trust you will have the goodness to excuse M。 Rousseau; he is very unwell; it is really extremely vexatious。〃
I replied that M。 Rousseau had made his own excuses。 Just then Therese; wishing to give herself the appearance of great utility; cried out;
〃Am I wanted there; M。 Rousseau?〃
〃No; no; no;〃 replied Jean Jacques; in a faint voice; which died away as if at a distance。
He soon after re…entered the room。
〃Madam;〃 said he; 〃have the kindness to place your music in other hands to copy; I am truly concerned that I cannot execute your wishes; but I feel too ill to set about it directly。〃
I replied; that I was in no hurry; that I should be in Paris some time yet; and that he might copy it at his leisure。 It was then settled that it should be ready within a week from that time; upon which I rose; and ceremoniously saluting Therese; was conducted to the door by M。 Rousseau; whose politeness led him to escort me thither; holding his cap in his hand。 I retired; filled with admiration; respect; and pity。
When next I saw the duc d'Aiguillon; I could not refrain from relating to him all that had happened。 My recital inspired him with the most lively curiosity to see Rousseau; whom he had never met in society。 It was then agreed; that when I went to fetch my music he should accompany me; disguised in a similar manner to myself; and that I should pass him off as my uncle。 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 fet