first composers, all seemed to prevent or dissipate a doubt of such a nature.  This however existed even at the Chevrette, and in the mind of M. d’Epinay himself.  Without appearing to observe it, I undertook to compose him a motet for the dedication of the chapel of the Chevrette, and I begged him to make choice of the words.  He directed de Linant, the tutor to his son, to furnish me with these.  De Linant gave me words proper to the subject, and in a week after I had received them the motet was finished.  This time, spite was my Apollo, and never did better music come from my hand.  The words began with:  ’Ecce sedes hic tonantis’. (I have since learned these were by Santeuil, and that M. de Linant had without scruple appropriated them to himself.) The grandeur of the opening is suitable to the words, and the rest of the motet is so elegantly harmonious that everyone was struck with it.  I had composed it for a great orchestra.  D’Epinay procured the best performers.  Madam Bruna, an Italian singer, sung the motet, and was well accompanied.  The composition succeeded so well that it was afterwards performed at the spiritual concert, where, in spite of secret cabals, and notwithstanding it was badly executed, it was twice generally applauded.  I gave for the birthday of M. d’Epinay the idea of a kind of piece half dramatic and half pantomimical, of which I also composed the music.  Grimm, on his arrival, heard speak of my musical success.  An hour afterwards not a word more was said on the subject; but there no longer remained a doubt, not at least that I know of, of my knowledge of composition.

Grimm was scarcely arrived at the Chevrette, where I already did not much amuse myself, before he made it insupportable to me by airs I never before saw in any person, and of which I had no idea.  The evening before he came, I was dislodged from the chamber of favor, contiguous to that of Madam d’Epinay; it was prepared for Grimm, and instead of it, I was put into another further off.  “In this manner,” said I, laughingly, to Madam d’Epinay, “new-comers displace those which are established.”  She seemed embarrassed.  I was better acquainted the same evening with the reason for the change, in learning that between her chamber and that I had quitted there was a private door which she had thought needless to show me.  Her intercourse with Grimm was not a secret either in her own house or to the public, not even to her husband; yet, far from confessing it to me, the confidant of secrets more important to her, and which was sure would be faithfully kept, she constantly denied it in the strongest manner.  I comprehended this reserve proceeded from Grimm, who, though intrusted with all my secrets, did not choose I should be with any of his.