is extract with the greatest care and
pains, and to send it her as the finest thing in the world; it is true,
I at the same time informed her the original was burned, which was really
the case, that the extract was for her alone, and would never be seen,
except by herself, unless she chose to show it; which, far from proving,
to her my prudence and discretion, as it was my intention to do, clearly
intimated what I thought of the application by which she might be
offended. My stupidity was such, that I had no doubt of her being
delighted with what I had done. She did not make me the compliment upon
it which I expected, and, to my great surprise, never once mentioned the
paper I had sent her. I was so satisfied with myself, that it was not
until a long time afterwards, I judged, from other indications, of the
effect it had produced.

I had still, in favor of her manuscript, another idea more reasonable,
but which, by more distant effects, has not been much less prejudicial to
me; so much does everything concur with the work of destiny, when that
hurries on a man to misfortune. I thought of ornamenting the manuscript
with the engravings of the New Eloisa, which were of the same size. I
asked Coindet for these engravings, which belonged to me by every kind of
title, and the more so as I had given him the produce of the plates,
which had a considerable sale. Coindet is as cunning as I am the
contrary. By frequently asking him for the engravings he came to the
knowledge of the use I intended to make of them. He then, under pretence
of adding some new ornament, still kept them from me; and at length
presented them himself.

'Ego versiculos feci, tulit alter honores.'

This gave him an introduction upon a certain footing to the Hotel de
Luxembourg. After my establishment at the little castle he came rather
frequently to see me, and always in the morning, especially when M. and
Madam de Luxembourg were at Montmorency. Therefore that I might pass the
day with him, I did not go the castle. Reproaches were made me on
account of my absence; I told the reason of them. I was desired to bring
with me M. Coindet; I did so. This was, what he had sought after.
Therefore, thanks to the excessive goodness M. and Madam de Luxembourg
had for me, a clerk to M. Thelusson, who was sometimes pleased to give
him his table when he had nobody else to dine with him, was suddenly
placed at that of a marechal of France, wi