But I was obliged to pass through
Besancon, a fortified town, and consequently subject to the same
inconvenience. I took it into my head to turn about and to go to
Salins, under the pretense of going to see M. de Mairan, the nephew of
M. Dupin, who had an employment at the salt-works, and formerly had
given me many invitations to his house. The expedient succeeded: M. de
Mairan was not in the way, and, happily, not being obliged to stop,
I continued my journey without being spoken to by anybody.
The moment I was within the territory of Berne, I ordered the
postillion to stop; I got out of my carriage, prostrated myself,
kissed the ground, and exclaimed in a transport of joy: "Heaven, the
protector of virtue, be praised, I touch a land of liberty!" Thus,
blind and unsuspecting in my hopes, have I ever been passionately
attached to that which was to make me unhappy. The man thought me mad.
I got into the carriage, and a few hours afterwards I had the pure and
lively satisfaction of feeling myself pressed within the arms of the
respectable Roguin. Ah! let me breathe for a moment with this worthy
host! It is necessary I should gain strength and courage before I
proceed further. I shall soon find that in my way which will give
employment to them both. It is not without reason that I have been
diffuse in the recital of all the circumstances I have been able to
recollect. Although they may seem uninteresting, yet, when once the
thread of the conspiracy is got hold of, they may throw some light
upon the progress of it; and, for instance, without giving the first
idea of the problem I am going to propose, afford some aid in
resolving it.
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