Rameau, who was charged with the alterations indicated by Madam de la Popliniere, sent to ask me for the overture of my great opera, to substitute it to that I had just composed.  Happily I perceived the trick he intended to play me, and refused him the overture.  As the performance was to be in five or six days, he had not time to make one, and was obliged to leave that I had prepared.  It was in the Italian taste, and in a style at that time quite new in France.  It gave satisfaction, and I learned from M. de Valmalette, maitre d’hotel to the king, and son-in-law to M. Mussard, my relation and friend, that the connoisseurs were highly satisfied with my work, and that the public had not distinguished it from that of Rameau.  However, he and Madam de la Popliniere took measures to prevent any person from knowing I had any concern in the matter.  In the books distributed to the audience, and in which the authors are always named, Voltaire was the only person mentioned, and Rameau preferred the suppression of his own name to seeing it associated with mine.

As soon as I was in a situation to leave my room, I wished to wait upon M. de Richelieu, but it was too late; he had just set off for Dunkirk, where he was to command the expedition destined to Scotland.  At his return, said I to myself, to authorize my idleness, it will be too late for my purpose, not having seen him since that time.  I lost the honor of mywork and the emoluments it should have produced me, besides considering my time, trouble, grief, and vexation, my illness, and the money this cost me, without ever receiving the least benefit, or rather, recompense.  However, I always thought M. de Richelieu was disposed to serve me, and that he had a favorable opinion of my talents; but my misfortune, and Madam de la Popliniere, prevented the effect of his good wishes.

I could not divine the reason of the aversion this lady had to me.  I had always endeavored to make myself agreeable to her, and regularly paid her my court.  Gauffecourt explained to me the causes of her dislike:  “The first,” said he, “is her friendship for Rameau, of whom she is the declared panegyrist, and who will not suffer a competitor; the next is an original sin, which ruins you in her estimation, and which she will never forgive; you are a Genevese.”  Upon this he told me the Abbe Hubert, who was from the same city, and the sincere friend of M. de la Popliniere, had used all his efforts to prevent him from marrying this lady, with whose character and temper he was very well acquainted; and that after the marriage she had vowed him an implacable hatred, as well as all the Genevese.  “Although La Popliniere has a friendship for you, do not,” said he, “depend upon his protection:  he is still in love with his wife:  she hates you, and is vindictive and artful; you will never do anything in that house.”  All this I took for granted.