"In this manner the public amused themselves, and selected their
favourites either from Messrs. de _Tonnerre_, or Messrs. de _Jabac_. But
who could imagine that a society of young people, who attended to
decorum in the midst of their amusements, would have excited the
jealousy and complaint of the great disciples of Melpomene.

"Through their interference we were obliged to shut up our theatre. A
Jansenist priest, however, procured its re-establishment. M. l'Abbe
Chauvelin of the parliament of Paris, condescended to interest himself
for the _pupils_, in opposition to their _masters_, and got us to play
_Le Mauvais Riche_, a five act comedy in verse, by M. d'Arnaud. The
piece did not possess much merit in the opinion of the most brilliant
assembly that was at that time to be met with in all Paris. This was in
the month of February 1750.

"M. de Voltaire was invited by the author to attend the representation:
and whether it was to gratify M. d'Arnaud, or through pure kindness to
the actors, who exerted themselves to the utmost to give effect to a
very feeble and uninteresting drama, that great man appeared tolerably
satisfied, and anxiously inquired the name of the person who had
performed the part of the lover. He received for answer, that he was the
son of a goldsmith at Paris, who played at present for his amusement,
but who had a serious intention of making the stage his profession. He
expressed to M. d'Arnaud a desire to be acquainted with me, and begged
that he would prevail upon me to go and see him the next day but one.

"The pleasure that this invitation afforded, was greater even than my
surprise at receiving it. But I have never been able to describe what
passed in my mind at the sight of this man, whose eyes sparkled with
fire, genius, and imagination. When I spoke to him, I felt myself
penetrated with respect, enthusiasm, admiration, and fear. I was almost
overpowered by these several sensations, when M. de Voltaire had the
goodness to put an end to my embarrassment, by opening his paternal
arms, and _thanking God for having created a being who had moved and
affected him in the recitation of such wretched verses_. He afterwards
put several questions to me respecting my own condition, and that of my
father; the manner in which I had been educated, and my future prospects
in life. Having satisfied him in all these particulars, and taken my
share of a dozen cups of chocolate mixed with coffee[E], I told him,