de le Popliniere, that of M. Seguy, friend to the Baron de Thun, and
known in the literary world by his beautiful edition of Rousseau.* The
baron invited M. Seguy and myself to go and pass a day or two at
Fontenai-sous-Bois, where the prince had a house. As I passed
Vincennes, at the sight of the dungeon, my feelings were acute; the
effect of which the baron perceived on my countenance. At supper the
prince mentioned the confinement of Diderot. The baron, to hear what I
had to say, accused the prisoner of imprudence; and I showed not a
little of the same in the impetuous manner in which I defended him.
There were present two Germans in the service of the prince. M.
Klupffel, a man of great wit, his chaplain, and who afterwards, having
supplanted the baron, became his governor. The other was a young man
named M. Grimm, who served him as a reader until he could obtain
some place, and whose indifferent appearance sufficiently proved the
pressing necessity he was under of immediately finding one. From
this very evening Klupffel and I began an acquaintance which soon
led to friendship. That with the Sieur Grimm did not make quite so
rapid a progress: he made but few advances, and was far from having
that haughty presumption which prosperity afterwards gave him. The
next day at dinner, the conversation turned upon music: he spoke
well on the subject. I was transported with joy when I learned from
him he could play an accompaniment on the harpsichord. After dinner
was over music was introduced, and we amused ourselves the rest of the
afternoon on the harpsichord of the prince.
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