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
"_Nouvelle Heloise_"; 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. J. Rousseau, we parted.

Early the next day I set out for Paris accompanied by Henriette; there,
in pursuance of the suggestion of madame de Mirepoix, I dressed myself
as a person recently arrived from the country, and Henriette, who was
to accompany me, disguised herself as a villager. I assure you, our
personal attractions lost nothing by the change of our attire. From
the rue de la Jussienne to the rue Platriere is only a few steps;
nevertheless, in the fear of being recognised, I took a hired carriage.
Having reached our place of destination, we entered, by a shabby door,
the habitation of Jean Jacques Rousseau: his apartments were on the
fifth floor. I can scarcely describe to you, my friend, the emotions I
experienced as I drew nearer and nearer to the author of "Heloise." At
each flight of stairs I was compelled to pause to collect my ideas,
and my poor heart beat as though I had been keeping an assignation. At
length, however, we reached the fifth story; thereafter having rested a
few minutes to recover myself, I was about to knock at a door which was
opposite to me, when, as I approached, I heard a sweet but tremulous
voice singing a melancholy air, which I have