D'ALEMBERT. 447 



Mdlle. de 1'Espinasse was a young person of great bril- 

 liancy, and of a warm and romantic disposition, which con- 

 tributed as much as her talents to captivate all who came 

 within the sphere of her attraction. The similarity of 

 their history produced a mutual interest between her and 

 D'Alembert, for she too was an illegitimate child. She was 

 the daughter of Mdme. D'Albon, but not by her husband, 

 being the fruit of a criminal intercourse with her lover. 

 Mdme. D'Albon's daughter by her husband was married 

 to M. de Vichy, and she allowed her unfortunate sister 

 to live with her as a governess, her parents having only 

 settled twelve pounds a year upon her. Constant ill- 

 usage in this house made her willing to accept the offer of 

 Mdme. du Deffand, whose deceased husband was supposed 

 to be her father. The moderate sum of sixteen pounds 

 a year was to be allowed her; and in 1752 she went to 

 live with her new patroness. Her humble office was to 

 be the companion of that lady, to bear her intolerable 

 humours, and to read her to sleep at an early hour of 

 the morning for in her life the night was turned into 

 day, and she seldom rose much before sunset, or went to 

 sleep before sunrise. The unhappy attendant was thus 

 condemned also to pass her day in bed; but she rose an 

 hour or two before her patroness, and that short interval, 

 her only enjoyment of life, was passed in receiving 

 D'Alembert and a few other friends, unknown to the 

 Marchioness, who, however, discovered these secret meet- 

 ings, and, treating them as a conspiracy against her, 

 drove the poor girl rudely from her situation, warning 

 D'Alembert, at the same time, that he must choose 

 between the two. As might be expected, he at once 

 preferred his young friend; and, joining with others, 



