M.le Maitre, like most of his profession, loved good wine; at table he was moderate, but when busy in his closet he must drink.His maid was so well acquainted with this humor that no sooner had he prepared his paper to compose, and taken his violoncello, than the bottle and glass arrived, and was replenished from time to time: thus, without being ever absolutely intoxicated, he was usually in a state of elevation.This was really unfortunate, for he had a good heart, and was so playful that Madam de Warrens used to call him the kitten.Unhappily, he loved his profession, labored much and drank proportionally, which injured his health, and at length soured his temper.Sometimes he was gloomy and easily offended, though incapable of rudeness, or giving offense to any one, for never did he utter a harsh word, even to the boys of the choir: on the other hand, he would not suffer another to offend him, which was but just:
the misfortune was, having little understanding, he did not properly discriminate, and was often angry without cause.
The Chapter of Geneva, where so many princes and bishops formerly thought it an honor to be seated, though in exile it lost its ancient splendor, retained (without any diminution) its pride.To be admitted, you must either be a gentleman or Doctor of Sorbonne.If there is a pardonable pride, after that derived from personal merit, it is doubtless that arising from birth, though, in general, priests having laymen in their service treat them with sufficient haughtiness, and thus the canons behaved to poor Le Maitre.The chanter, in particular, who was called the Abbe de Vidonne, in other respects a well-behaved man, but too full of his nobility, did not always show him the attention his talents merited.M.le Maitre could not bear these indignities patiently; and this year, during passion week, they had a more serious dispute than ordinary.At an institution dinner that the bishop gave the canons, and to which Le Maitre was always invited, the abbe failed in some formality, adding, at the same time, some harsh words, which the other could not digest; he instantly formed the resolution to quit them the following night; nor could any consideration make him give up his design, though Madam de Warrens (whom he went to take leave of) spared no pains to appease him.He could not relinquish the pleasure of leaving his tyrants embarrassed for the Easter feast, at which time he knew they stood in greatest need of him.He was most concerned about his music, which he wished to take with him; but this could not easily be accomplished, as it filled a large case, and was very heavy, and could not be carried under the arms.
Madam de Warrens did what I should have done in her situation; and indeed, what I should yet do: after many useless efforts to retain him, seeing he was resolved to depart, whatever might be the event, she formed the resolution to give him every possible assistance.Imust confess Le Maitre deserved it of her, for he was (if I may use the expression) dedicated to her service, in whatever appertained to either his art or knowledge, and the readiness with which he obliged gave a double value to his complaisance: thus she only paid back, on an essential occasion, the many favors he had been long conferring on her; though I should observe, she possessed a soul that, to fulfill such duties, had no occasion to be reminded of previous obligation.
Accordingly she ordered me to follow Le Maitre to Lyons, and continue with him as long as he might have occasion for my services.
She has since avowed, that a desire of detaching me from Venture had a great hand in this arrangement.She consulted Claude Anet about the conveyance of the above-mentioned case.He advised, that instead of hiring a beast of Annecy, which would infallibly discover us, it would be better, at night, to take it to some neighboring village, and there hire an ass to carry it to Seyssel, which being in the French dominions, we should have nothing to fear.This plan was adopted; we departed the same night at seven, and Madam de Warrens, under pretense of paying my expenses, increased the purse of poor Le Maitre by an addition that was very acceptable.Claude Anet, the gardener, and myself, carried the case to the first village, then hired an ass, and the same night reached Seyssel.
I think I have already remarked that there are times in which I am so unlike myself that I might be taken for a man of a direct opposite disposition; I shall now give an example of this.M.
Reydelet, curate of Seyssel, was canon of St.Peter's, consequently known to M.le Maitre, and one of the people from whom he should have taken most pains to conceal himself; my advice, on the contrary, was to present ourselves to him, and, under some pretext, entreat entertainment as if we visited him by consent of the chapter.Le Maitre adopted this idea, which seemed to give his revenge an appearance of satire and waggery; in short, we went boldly to Reydelet, who received us very kindly.Le Maitre told him he was going to Bellay by desire of the bishop, that he might superintend the music during the Easter holidays, and that he proposed returning that way in a few days.To support this tale, I told a hundred others, so naturally that M.Reydelet thought me a very agreeable youth, and treated me with great friendship and civility.We were well regaled and well lodged: M.Reydelet scarcely knew how to make enough of us;and we parted the best friends in the world, with a promise to stop longer on our return.We found it difficult to refrain form laughter, or wait till we were alone to give free vent to our mirth:
