To pass the mountains, to my
eye appeared delightful; how charming the reflection of elevating
myself above my companions by the whole height of the Alps! To see the
world is an almost irresistible temptation to a Genevan, accordingly I
gave my consent.
He who suggested the journey was to set off in two days with his
wife. I was recommended to their care; they were likewise made my
purse-bearers, which had been augmented by Madam de Warrens, who,
not contented with these kindnesses, added secretly a pecuniary
reinforcement, attended with the most ample instructions, and we
departed on the Wednesday before Easter.
The day following, my father arrived at Annecy, accompanied by his
friend, a Mr. Rival, who was likewise a watchmaker; he was a man of
sense and letters, who wrote better verses than La Motte, and spoke
almost as well; what is still more to his praise, he was a man of
the strictest integrity, but whose taste for literature only served to
make one of his sons a comedian. Having traced me to the house of
Madam de Warrens, they contented themselves with lamenting, like
her, my fate, instead of overtaking me, which (as they were on
horseback and I on foot) they might have accomplished with the
greatest ease.
My uncle Bernard did the same thing, he arrived at Consignon,
received information that I was gone to Annecy, and immediately
returned back to Geneva thus my nearest relations seemed to have
conspired with my adverse stars to consign me to misery and ruin.
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