* Father of the Family; a Comedy by Diderot.
The second day after my arrival, he would absolutely take me to
sup with M. d'Holbach. We were far from agreeing upon this point;
for I wished even to get rid of the bargain for the manuscript on
chemistry, for which I was enraged to be obliged to that man.
Diderot carried all before him. He swore D'Holbach loved me with all
his heart, said I must forgive him his manner, which was the same to
everybody, and more disagreeable to his friends than to others. He
observed to me that, refusing the produce of this manuscript, after
having accepted it two years before, was an affront to the donor which
he had not deserved, and that my refusal might be interpreted into a
secret reproach, for having waited so long to conclude the bargain. "I
see," added he, "D'Holbach every day, and know better than you do
the nature of his disposition. Had you reason to be dissatisfied
with him, do you think your friend capable of advising you to do a
mean thing?" In short, with my accustomed weakness, I suffered
myself to be prevailed upon, and we went to sup with the baron, who
received me as he usually had done. But his wife received me coldly
and almost uncivilly. I saw nothing in her which resembled the amiable
Caroline, who, when a maid, expressed for me so many good wishes. I
thought I had already perceived that since Grimm had frequented the
house of D'Aine, I had not met there so friendly a reception.
Whilst I was at Paris, Saint Lambert arrived there from the army.
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