His brother, the Chevalier de Montaigu, gentilhomme de la manche to
the dauphin, was acquainted with these ladies, and with the Abbe Alary
of the French academy, whom I sometimes visited. Madam de Broglie,
having heard the ambassador was seeking a secretary, proposed me to
him. A conference was opened between us. I asked a salary of fifty
guineas, a trifle for an employment which required me to make some
appearance. The ambassador was unwilling to give more than a
thousand livres, leaving me to make the journey at my own expense. The
proposal was ridiculous. We could not agree, and M. de Francueil,
who used all his efforts to prevent my departure, prevailed.
I stayed, and M. de Montaigu set out on his journey, taking with him
another secretary, one M. Follau, who had been recommended to him by
the office for foreign affairs. They no sooner arrived at Venice
than they quarreled. Follau perceiving he had to do with a madman,
left him there, and M. de Montaigu having nobody with him, except a
young abbe of the name of Binis, who wrote under the secretary, and
was unfit to succeed him, had recourse to me. The chevalier, his
brother, a man of wit, by giving me to understand there were
advantages annexed to the place of secretary, prevailed upon me to
accept the thousand livres. I was paid twenty louis in advance for
my journey, and immediately departed.
At Lyons I would most willing have taken the route by Mount Cenis,
to see my poor mamma. But I went down the Rhone, and embarked at
Toulon, as well on account of the war, and from a motive of economy,
as to obtain a passport from M.
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