One evening Madam d'Epinay, finding herself a little
indisposed, ordered something for her supper to be carried into her
chamber, and went up stairs to sup by the side of the fire. She
asked me to go with her, which I did. Grimm came afterwards. The
little table was already placed, and there were but two covers. Supper
was served: Madam d'Epinay took her place on one side of the fire,
Grimm took an armed chair, seated himself at the other, drew the
little table between them, opened his napkin, and prepared himself for
eating without speaking to me a single word. Madam d'Epinay blushed at
his behavior, and, to induce him to repair his rudeness, offered me
her place. He said nothing, nor did he ever look at me. Not being able
to approach the fire, I walked about the chamber until a cover was
brought. Indisposed as I was, older than himself, longer acquainted in
the house than he had been, the person who had introduced him there,
and to whom as favorite of the lady he ought to have done the honors
of it, he suffered me to sup at the end of the table, at a distance
from the fire, without showing me the least civility. His whole
behavior to me corresponded with this example of it. He did not
treat me precisely as his inferior, but he looked upon me as a cipher.
I could scarcely recognize the same Grimm, who, to the house of the
Prince de Saxe-Gotha, thought himself honored when I cast my eyes upon
him. I had still more difficulty in reconciling this profound
silence and insulting haughtiness with the tender friendship he
possessed for me to those whom he knew to be real friends.
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