One day, little thinking of what was to happen, Madam d’Epinay sent for me to the Chevrette.  The moment I saw her I perceived in her eyes and whole countenance an appearance of uneasiness, which struck me the more, as this was not customary, nobody knowing better than she did how to govern her features and her movements.  “My friend,” said she to me, “I am immediately going to set off for Geneva; my breast is in a bad state, and my health so deranged that I must go and consult Tronchin.”  I was the more astonished at this resolution so suddenly taken, and at the beginning of the bad season of the year, as thirty-six hours before she had not, when I left her, so much as thought of it.  I asked her who she would take with her.  She said her son and M. de Linant; and afterwards carelessly added, “And you, dear, will not you go also?” As I did not think she spoke seriously, knowing that at the season of the year I was scarcely in a situation to go to my chamber, I joked upon the utility of the company, of one sick person to another.  She herself had not seemed to make the proposition seriously, and here the matter dropped.  The rest of our conversation ran upon the necessary preparations for her journey, about which she immediately gave orders, being determined to set off within a fortnight.  She lost nothing by my refusal, having prevailed upon her husband to accompany her.

A few days afterwards I received from Diderot the note I am going to transcribe.  This note, simply doubled up, so that the contents were easily read, was addressed to me at Madam d’Epinay’s, and sent to M. de Linant, tutor to the son, and confidant to the mother.

NOTE FROM DIDEROT.

“I am naturally disposed to love you, and am born to give you trouble.  I am informed Madam d’Epinay is going to Geneva, and do not hear you are to accompany her.  My friend, you are satisfied with Madam d’Epinay, you must go, with her; if dissatisfied you ought still less to hesitate.  Do you find the weight of the obligations you are under to her uneasy to you?  This is an opportunity of discharging a part of them, and relieving your mind.  Do you ever expect another opportunity like the present one, of giving her proofs of your gratitude?  She is going to a country where she will be quite a stranger.  She is ill, and will stand in need of amusement and dissipation.  The winter season too!  Consider, my friend.  Your ill state of health may be a much greater objection than I think it is; but are you now more indisposed than you were a month ago, or than you will be at the beginning of spring?  Will you three months hence be in a situation to perform the journey more at your ease than at present?  For my part I cannot but observe to you that were I unable to bear the shaking of the carriage I would take my staff and follow her.  Have you no fears lest your conduct should be misinterpreted?  You will be suspected of