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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 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。 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。 I likewise recounted my former visit； which I had concealed until now。 Louis XV seemed greatly interested with the recital of it； he asked me a thousand questions； and would fain hear the most trifling particulars。
〃I shall never forget；〃 said Louis XV； 〃the amazing success obtained by his '' There certainly were some beautiful airs〃； and the king began to hum over the song of
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