a little house almost entirely new, well laid out, and very habitable for a little family of three persons.  Madam D’Epinay had caused this to be done in silence, and at a very small expense, by detaching a few materials and some of the work men from the castle.  She now said to me, on remarking my surprise:  “My dear, here behold your asylum; it is you who have chosen it; friendship offers it to you.  I hope this will remove from you the cruel idea of separating from me.”  I do not think I was ever in my life more strongly or more deliciously affected.  I bathed with tears the beneficent hand of my friend; and if I were not conquered from that very instant even, I was extremely staggered.  Madam D’Epinay, who would not be denied, became so pressing, employed so many means, so many people to circumvent me, proceeding even so far as to gain over Madam le Vasseur and her daughter, that at length she triumphed over all my resolutions.  Renouncing the idea of residing in my own country, I resolved, I promised, to inhabit the Hermitage; and, whilst the building was drying, Madam D’Epinay took care to prepare furniture, so that everything was ready the following spring.

One thing which greatly aided me in determining, was the residence Voltaire had chosen near Geneva; I easily comprehended this man would cause a revolution there, and that I should find in my country the manners, which drove me from Paris; that I should be under the necessity of incessantly struggling hard, and have no other alternative than that of being an unsupportable pedant, a poltroon, or a bad citizen.  The letter Voltaire wrote me on my last work, induced me to insinuate my fears in my answer; and the effect this produced confirmed them.  From that moment I considered Geneva as lost, and I was not deceived.  I perhaps ought to have met the storm, had I thought myself capable of resisting it.  But what could I have done alone, timid, and speaking badly, against a man, arrogant, opulent, supported by the credit of the great, eloquent, and already the idol of the women and young men?  I was afraid of uselessly exposing myself to danger to no purpose.  I listened to nothing but my peaceful disposition, to my love of repose, which, if it then deceived me, still continues to deceive me on the same subject.  By retiring to Geneva, I should have avoided great misfortunes; but I have my doubts whether, with all my ardent and patriotic zeal, I should have been able to effect anything great and useful for my country.

Tronchin, who about the same time went to reside at Geneva, came afterwards to Paris and brought with him treasures.  At his arrival he came to see me, with the Chevalier Jaucourt.  Madam D’Epinay had a strong desire to consult him in private, but this it was not easy to do.  She addressed herself to me, and I engaged Tronchin to go and see her.  Thus under my auspices they began a connection, which was afterwards increased at my expense.  Such