第63章

IamnotyetsofarreducedthatIcannotpurchaseitfor

you。

Ihaveatriflingannuity——“

“Andyouwouldbeamuchricherman，“screamedTherese，“ifyou

wouldinsistuponthosepeopleattheoperapayingyouwhatthey

oweyou。“

Thesewordswereaccompaniedwithashrugofthe

shoulders，intendedtoconveyavastideaofherownopinion。

Rousseaumadenoreply；indeedheappearedtomelikeafrightened

childinthepresenceofitsnurse；andIcouldquicklysee，that

fromthemomentofherenteringtheroomhehadbecomerestless

anddejected，hefidgetedonhisseat，andseemedlikeaperson

inexcessivepain。

Atlengthherose，andrequestingmypardon

forabsentinghimself，headded，“Mywifewillhavethehonour

toentertainyouwhilstIamaway。“

Withthesewordsheopened

asmallglass-door，anddisappearedintheneighbouringroom。

WhenwewerealonewithTherese，shelostnotimeinopening

theconversation。

“Madam，“criedshe，“Itrustyouwillhavethegoodnesstoexcuse

M。Rousseau；heisveryunwell；itisreallyextremelyvexatious。“

IrepliedthatM。Rousseauhadmadehisownexcuses。

Justthen

Therese，wishingtogiveherselftheappearanceofgreatutility，

criedout，

“AmIwantedthere，M。Rousseau？“

“No，no，no，“repliedJeanJacques，inafaintvoice，whichdied

awayasifatadistance。

Hesoonafterre-enteredtheroom。

“Madam，“saidhe，“havethekindnesstoplaceyourmusicinother

handstocopy；IamtrulyconcernedthatIcannotexecuteyour

wishes，butIfeeltooilltosetaboutitdirectly。“

Ireplied，thatIwasinnohurry；thatIshouldbeinParissome

timeyet，andthathemightcopyitathisleisure。

Itwasthen

settledthatitshouldbereadywithinaweekfromthattime；

uponwhichIrose，andceremoniouslysalutingTherese，was

conductedtothedoorbyM。Rousseau，whosepolitenessledhim

toescortmethither，holdinghiscapinhishand。

Iretired，

filledwithadmiration，respect，andpity。

WhennextIsawtheducd’Aiguillon，Icouldnotrefrainfrom

relatingtohimallthathadhappened。

Myrecitalinspiredhim

withthemostlivelycuriositytoseeRousseau，whomhehad

nevermetinsociety。

Itwasthenagreed，thatwhenIwentto

fetchmymusicheshouldaccompanyme，disguisedinasimilar

mannertomyself，andthatIshouldpasshimoffasmyuncle。

At

theendoftheeightdaysIrepairedearlyasbeforetoParis；

thedukewasnotlonginjoiningmethere。

Hewassoinimita