Thus, at the age of twenty-four, Mlle. Curchod, beautiful, virtuous, and accomplished, and at the height of her reputation in a small town in Switzerland, was left an orphan.  She was taken to Paris by Mme. de Vermenoux, a wealthy widow, who was sought in marriage by M. Necker, banker and capitalist; but, as she was unable to make up her mind to a definite answer, his attention was attracted to her young companion.  The result was that, after a few months’ sojourn in Paris, Mlle. Curchod became the wife of M. Necker, an event which caused rejoicing from Lausanne to Geneva.  Their characters are well portrayed in two letters, written by them to their friends after their marriage.  M. Necker wrote, in reply to a letter of congratulation: 

“Yes, sir; your friend (Mlle. Curchod) was indeed willing to have me, and I believe myself as happy as one can be.  I cannot understand how it can be you whom they congratulate, unless it is as my friend.  Will money always be the measure of opinion?  That is pitiable!  He who wins a virtuous, kind, and sensible woman—­has he not made a good transaction, whether or not she be seated on sacks of money?  Humanity, what a poor judge you are!”

Shortly after her marriage, Mme. Necker wrote to one of her friends:  “My dear, I have married a man who, according to my ideas, is the kindest of mortals, and I am not the only one to judge thus.  I had had a liking for him ever since I learned to know him.  At present, I see, in all nature, only my husband.  I take notice of other men only in so far as they come more or less up to the standard of my husband, and I compare them only for the pleasure of seeing the difference.”  The marital relations of this loving pair lasted throughout life; and among great women of the eighteenth century, Mme. Necker is one of the few examples of ideal marriage relations.

Soon after their marriage, the Neckers took up their quarters at the Rue Michel-le-Comte, where they began to receive friends.  As at that time every day in the week was reserved by other salons,—­Monday and Wednesday at Mme. Geoffrin’s, Tuesday at Helvetius’s, Thursday and Sunday at the Baron d’Holbach’s,—­Mme. Necker was compelled to appoint Friday as her reception day.  She soon succeeded in attracting to her hotel the best esprit of Paris:  Diderot, Suard, Grimm, Comte de Schomberg, Marmontel, D’Alembert, Thomas, Saint-Lambert, Helvetius, Ducis, Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, the Abbes Raynal, Armand, and Morellet, Mme. Geoffrin, Mme. du Deffand, Mme. de Marchais, Mme. Suard, the Marechale de Luxembourg, the Duchesse de Lauzun, the Marquise de La Ferte-Imbault, Mme. de Boufflers.

Among these visitors, most of whom were atheists, Mme. Necker preserved her own religious opinions and piety, although her friends at Geneva never ceased to be concerned about her.  Her admirers were many, but they were kept within the bounds of propriety and never attempted any gallant liberties with the hostess—­except her ardent admirer Thomas, the intensity of whose eulogies upon her she was forced to check occasionally.  It was not long before she became very influential in filling the vacant seats of the Academy.  In this and many other respects, her salon may be compared with that of Mme. de Lambert.