Be that as it may, I was fully sensible of his
kindness in endeavoring to efface from the minds of others, and even
from my own, the embarrassment I had experienced on this occasion.
Twelve or fifteen years afterwards, meeting this gentleman at
several houses in Paris, I was tempted to make him recollect this
anecdote, and show him I still remembered it; but he had lost his
sight since that time; I feared to give him pain by recalling to his
memory how useful it formerly had been to him, and was therefore
silent on that subject.
I now touch on the moment that binds my past existence to the
present, some friendships of that period, prolonged to the present
time, being very dear to me, have frequently made me regret that happy
obscurity, when those who called themselves my friends were really so;
loved me for myself, through pure good will, and not from the vanity
of being acquainted with a conspicuous character, perhaps for the
secret purpose of finding more occasions to injure him.
From this time I date my first acquaintance with my old friend
Gauffecourt, who, notwithstanding every effort to disunite us, has
still remained so.- Still remained so!- No, alas! I have just lost
him!- but his affection terminated only with his life- death alone
could put a period to our friendship. Monsieur de Gauffecourt was
one of the most amiable men that ever existed; it was impossible to
see him without affection, or to live with him without feeling a
sincere attachment.
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