This "foster-mother of philosophers" evidently wished to make sure of
her own safety, however matters might turn out in the next world. She
had a devotional vein, went to mass privately, had a seat at the Church
of the Capucins, and an apartment for retreat in a convent. During her
last illness the Marquise de la Ferte-Imbault, who did not love her
mother's freethinking friends, excluded them, and sent for a confessor.
Mme. Geoffrin submitted amiably, and said, smiling, "My daughter is like
Godfrey of Bouillon; she wishes to defend my tomb against the infidels."

Into the composition of her salon she brought the talent of an artist.
We have a glimpse of her in 1748 through a letter from Montesquieu.
She was then about fifty, and had gathered about her a more or less
distinguished company, which was enlarged after the death of Mme. de
Tencin, in the following year. She gave dinners twice a week--one on
Monday for artists, among whom were Vanloo, Vernet, and Boucher; and one
on Wednesday for men of letters. As she believed that women were apt
to distract the conversation, only one was usually invited to dine with
them. Mlle. de Lespinasse, the intellectual peer and friend of these
men, sat opposite her, and aided in conducting the conversation into
agreeable channels. The talent of Mme. Geoffrin seems to have consisted
in telling a story well, in a profound knowledge of people, ready tact,
and the happy art of putting every one at ease. She did not like heated
discussions nor a too pronounced expression of opinion. "She was
willing that the philosophers should remodel the world," says one of her
critics, "on condition that the kingdom of Diderot should come without
disorder or confusion." But though she liked and admired this very free
and eloquent Diderot, he was too bold and outspoken to have a place at
her table. Helvetius, too, fell into disfavor after the censure which
his atheistic DE L'esprit brought upon him; and Baron d'Holbach was
too apt to overstep the limits at which the hostess interfered with her
inevitable "Voila qui est bien." Indeed, she assumed the privilege
of her years to scold her guests if they interfered with the general
harmony or forgot any of the amenities. But her scoldings were very
graciously received as a slight penalty for her favor, and more or
less a measure of her friendship. She graded her courtesies with fine
discrimination, and her friends found the reflection of their success
or fa