This is an animated picture by an eye-witness. But all authorities
concur in its truthfulness. Even Capefigue--whose business is to
belittle all that is truly great, and especially to efface those names
which are associated with human liberty, while, like another Old
Mortality, he furbishes the tombstones of royal mistresses--is yet
constrained to bear witness to the popularity and influence which
Franklin achieved. The critic dwells on what he styles his "Quaker
garb," "his linen so white under clothes so brown," and also the
elaborate art of the philosopher, who understood France and knew well
"that a popular man became soon more powerful than power itself"; but he
cannot deny that the philosopher "fulfilled his duties with great
superiority," or that he became at once famous.[22]

The arrival of Franklin was followed very soon by the departure of the
youthful Lafayette, who crossed the sea to offer his generous sword to
the service of American liberty. Our cause was now widely known. In the
thronged _cafes_ and the places of public resort it was discussed with
sympathy and admiration.[23] And so completely was Franklin recognized
as the representative of new ideas, that the Emperor Joseph II. of
Austria,--professed reformer as he was,--on one of his visits to France
under the travelling-name of Count Falkenstein, is reported to have
firmly avoided all temptation to see him, saying, "My business is to be
a Royalist,"--thus doing homage to the real character of Franklin, in
whom the Republic was personified.

Franklin was at once, by natural attraction, the welcome guest of that
brilliant company of philosophers who exercised such influence over the
eighteenth century. The "Encyclopedie" was their work, and they were
masters at the Academy. He was received into their guild. At the famous
table of the Baron D'Holbach, where twice a week, Sunday and Thursday,
at dinner, lasting from two till seven o'clock, the wits of that time
were gathered, he found a hospitable chair. But he was most at home with
Madame Helvetius, the widow of the rich and handsome philosopher, whose
name, derived from Holland, is now almost unknown. At her house he met
in social familiarity D'Alembert, Diderot, D'Holbach, Morellet, Cabanis,
and Condorcet, with their compeers. There, also, was Turgot, the
greatest of all. There was another person in some respects as famous as
any of these, but leading a very different life, whom Franklin saw
often,--