The only person amongst them, who gave
me pleasure, was Moultou, who passed with me three or four days, and
whom I wished to retain much longer; the most persevering of all,
the most obstinate, and who conquered me by importunity, was a M.
d'Ivernois, a merchant at Geneva, a French refugee, and related to the
attorney-general of Neuchatel. This man came from Geneva to Motiers
twice a year, on purpose to see me, remained with me several days
together from morning to night, accompanied me in my walks, brought me
a thousand little presents, insinuated himself in spite of me into
my confidence, and intermeddled in all my affairs, notwithstanding
there was not between him and myself the least similarity of ideas,
inclination, sentiment, or knowledge. I do not believe he ever read
a book of any kind throughout, or that he knows upon what subject mine
are written. When I began to herbalize, he followed me in my botanical
rambles, without taste for that amusement, or having anything to say
to me or I to him. He had the patience to pass with me three days in a
public house at Goumoins, whence, by wearying him and making him
feel how much he wearied me, I was in hopes of driving him. I could
not, however, shake his incredible perseverance, nor by any means
discover the motive of it.
Amongst these connections, made and continued by force, I must not
omit the only one that was agreeable to me, and in which my heart
was really interested: this was that I had with a young Hungarian
who came to live at Neuchatel, and from that place to Motiers, a few
months after I had taken up my residence there.
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