He took me to the Count de Gauvon, Master of the Horse to the Queen,
and Chief of the illustrious House of Solar. The air of dignity
conspicuous in this respectable old man, rendered the affability
with which he received me yet more interesting. He questioned me
with evident interest, and I replied with sincerity. He then told
the Count de la Roque, that my features were agreeable, and promised
intellect, which he believed I was not deficient in; but that was
not enough, and time must show the rest; after which, turning to me,
he said, "Child, almost all situations are attended with
difficulties in the beginning; yours, however, shall not have too
great a portion of them; be prudent, and endeavor to please every one,
that will be almost your only employment; for the rest fear nothing,
you shall be taken care of." Immediately after he went to the
Marchioness de Breil, his daughter-in-law, to whom he presented me,
and then to the Abbe de Gauvon, his son. I was elated with this
beginning, as I knew enough of the world already to conclude, that
so much ceremony is not generally used at the reception of a
footman. In fact, I was not treated like one. I dined at the steward's
table; did not wear a livery; and the Count de Favria (a giddy
youth) having commanded me to get behind his coach, his grandfather
ordered that I should get behind no coach, nor follow any one out of
the house. Meantime, I waited at table, and did, within doors, the
business of a footman; but I did it, as it were, of my own free
will, without being appointed to any particular service; and except
writing some letters, which were dictated to me, and cutting out
some ornaments for the Count de Favria, I was almost the absolute
master of my time.
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