"^ memoirs of Ahbe Bianchet. March "j^ 



set out to-morrow for Versailles, and I think my books 

 will follow me the day after. Alas ! I am much afraid 

 that my dear books and I may not return very soon." 

 He arranged, with a great deal of intelligence, the li- 

 brary which had been intrusted to his care ; he con- 

 ducted himself, also much to the liking of the prince 

 and courtiers, who sought for his conversation, 

 though he did not flatter them. In his commerce 

 with them he had the talent to speak truth without 

 rudenefs, and was polite without familiarity. He 

 was a scrupulous observer of good breeding, and per- 

 fectly aquainted with i^s different fhades. It was in 

 vain they called him familiarly my dear ; his reply 

 was always Sir ; and it was by these means he a- 

 voided any humiliations, which are generally the 

 consequences of unequal connections. 



During this time he was dying of chagrin, and 

 ennui, as he declares himself to his friend : " Ah ! 

 my friend, I hope you are more happy where you 

 are than I am here ! I will quit it, if it please God, 

 about the end of winter. I fhall find myself in all pro- 

 bability as I was before, in moderate poverty, which 

 does not alarm me when to it is joined liberty, health of 

 body, and peace of mind." He gave up his place, 

 as he said he would, and returned to Paris , but his 

 stay at Versailles had cured him of all illusion, by 

 bringing immediately under his own eyes, what can 

 only be esteemed when seen at a distance. 



As the pafsions are every where the same, Paris, 

 after this new and last experiment, appeared to him 

 like a desart. Thinking himself incapable hence- 

 forward of living with mankind, whom he could not 



