[16]
As to the company below, the maid of the house eyes them with terror, calling them libertins, and mauvais sujets. She certainly means what we call Bucks, and of these, I think there must be a certain proportion to every town. At length la Jeunesse Genevois have taken their leave, for at a certain hour Geneva's gates are closed, and impenetrable to any person whatsoever until the morning.
To my great disappointment, I am just now informed that the letters I expected to receive here from you are forwarded to Turin; travellers must learn patience.
A cold I have caught, adds to my chagrin, as it deprives me of going to Ferney*, whither M– went this morning, and from whence he is just returned, highly satisfied with his reception, for Voltaire was in a good humour: D'Alembert and the Marquis d'Argens were just arrived by appointment to pass a few days together, the former from Paris, the latter from Berlin. You may imagine the conversation was not languid when kept up by such men. I have been teasing M– to relate to me every word they uttered; what he recollects of the conversation pleases me so much, that I with him to commit it to paper for your amusement, and he has promised me he will do so the very first moment he can command. He says, Ferney is a charming place, that Voltaire lives magnificently. – His niece, who is a very well bred agreeable woman, manages his houshold affairs; – and that
- The seat of M de Voltaire, about three English miles distant from Geneva.
