on as a writer of gossipy memoirs； was a prominent figure in the lively court at Sceaux for more than forty years； and has given us some vivid pictures of her capricious mistress。 A young girl of clear intellect and good education； but without rank； friends； or fortune； she was forced to accept the humiliating position of femme de chambre with the Duchesse du Maine； who had been attracted by her talents。 She was brought into notice through a letter to Fontenelle； which was thought witty enough to be copied and circulated。 If she had taken this cool dissector of human motives as a model； she certainly did credit to his teaching。 Her curiously analytical mind is aptly illustrated by her novel method of measuring her lover's passion。 He was in the habit of accompanying her home from the house of a friend。 When he began to cross the square； instead of going round it； she concluded that his love had diminished in the exact proportion of two sides of a square to the diagonal。 Promoted to the position of a companion； she devoted herself to the interests of her restless mistress； read to her； talked with her； wrote plays for her； and was the animating spirit of the famous Nuits Blanches。 While the duchess was in exile she shared her disgrace； refused to betray her； and was sent to the Bastille for her loyalty。 She resigned herself to her imprisonment with admirable philosophy； amused herself in the study of Latin； in watching the gambols of a cat and kitten； and in carrying on a safe and sentimental flirtation with the fascinating Duc de Richelieu； who occupied an adjoining cell and passed the hours in singing with her popular airs from Iphigenie。 〃Sentimental〃 is hardly a fitting word to apply to the coquetries of this remarkably clear and calculating young woman。 She returned with her patroness to Sceaux； found many admirers； but married finally with an eye to her best worldly interests； and； it appears； in the main happilyat least； not unhappily。 The shade of difference implies much。 She had a keen； penetrating intellect which nothing escaped； and as it had the peculiar clearness in which people and events are reflected as in a mirror； her observations are of great value。 〃Aside from the prose of Voltaire； I know of none more agreeable than that of Mme。 de Staal de Launay；〃 said Grimm。 Her portrait of her mistress serves to paint herself as well。
〃Mme。 la Duchesse du Maine； at the age of sixty years； has yet learned nothing from experience； she is a child of much talent； she has its defects and its charms。 Curious and credulous； she wishes to be instructed in all the different branches of knowledge； but she is contented with their surface。 The decisions of those who educated her have become for her principles and rules upon which her mind has never formed the least doubt； she submits once for all。 Her provision for ideas is made； she rejects the best demonstrated truths and resists the best reasonings； if they are contrary to the first impressions she has received。 All examination is impossible to her lightness； and doubt is a state which her weakness cannot support。 Her catechism and the philosophy of Descartes are two systems which she understands equally well 。 。 。 。 Her mirror cannot make her doubt the charms of her face； the testimony of her eyes is more questionable than the judgment of those who have decided that she is beautiful and well…formed。 Her vanity is of a singular kind； but seems the less offensive because it is not reflective； though in reality it is the more ridiculous； Intercourse with her is a slavery； her tyranny is open； she does not deign to color it with the appearance of friendship。 She says frankly that she has the misfortune of not being able to do without people for whom she does not care。 She proves it effectually。 One sees her learn with indifference the death of those who would call forth torrents of tears if they were a quarter of an hour too late for a card party or a promenade。〃
But this vain and self…willed woman read Virgil and Terence in the original； was devoted to Greek tragedies； dipped into philosophy； traversed the surface of many sciences； turned a madrigal with facility； and talked brilliantly。 〃The language is perfect only when you speak it or when one speaks of you；〃 wrote Mme。 de Lambert； in a tone of discreet flattery。 〃No one has ever spoken with more correctness； clearness； and rapidity； neither in a manner more noble or more natural；〃 said Mlle。 de Launay。
Through this feminine La Bruyere； as Sainte…Beuve has styled her； we are introduced to the life at Sceaux。 It was the habit of the guests to assemble at eight； listen to music or plays； improvise verses for popular airs； relate racy anecdotes； or amuse themselves with proverbs。 〃Write verses for me；〃 said the insatiable duchess when ill； 〃I feel that verses only can give me relief。〃 The quality does not seem to have been essential； provided they were sufficiently flattering。 Sainte…Aulaire wrote madrigals for her。 Malezieu； the learned and versatile preceptor of the Duc du Maine； read Sophocles and Euripides。 Mme。 du Maine herself acted the roles of Athalie and Iphigenie with the famous Baron。 They played at science； contemplated the heavens through a telescope and the earth through a microscope。 In their eager search for novelty they improvised fetes that rivaled in magnificence the Arabian Nights； they posed as gods and goddesses； or； affecting simplicity； assumed rustic and pastoral characters； even to their small economies and romantic platitudes。 Mythology； the chivalry of the Middle Ages； costumes； illuminations； scenic effects； the triumphs of the artists； the wit of the bel espritall that ingenuity could devise or money could buy was brought into service。 It was the life that Watteau painted； with its quaint and grotesque fancies； its sylvan divinities； and its sighing lovers wandering in endless masquerade； or whispering tender nothings on banks of soft verdure； amid the rustle of leaves； the sparkle of fountains； the glitter of lights； and the perfume of innumerable flowers。 It was a perpetual carnival； inspired by imagination； animated by genius； and combining everything that could charm the taste； distract the mind； and intoxicate the senses。 The presiding genius of this fairy scene was the irrepressible duchess； who reigned as a goddess and demanded the homage due to one。 Well might the weary courtiers cry out against les galeres du bel esprit。
But this fantastic princess who carried on a sentimental correspondence with the blind La Motte； and posed as the tender shepherdess of the adoring but octogenarian Sainte…Aulaire； had no really democratic notions。 There was no question in her mind of the divine right of kings or of princesses。 She welcomed Voltaire because he flattered her vanity and amused her guests； but she was far enough from the theories which were slowly fanning the sparks of the Revolution。 Her rather imperious patronage of literary and scientific men set a fashion which all her world tried to follow。 It added doubtless to the prestige of those who were insidiously preparing the destruction of the very foundations on which this luxurious and pleasure…loving society rested。 But； after all； the bond between this restless； frivolous； heartless coterie and the genuine men of letters was very slight。 There was no seriousness； no earnestness； no sincerity； no solid foundation。
The literary men； however； who figured most conspicuously in the intimate circle of the Duchesse du Maine were not of the first order。 Malezieu was learned； a member of two Academies； faintly eulogized by Fontenelle； warmly so by Voltaire； and not at all by Mlle。 de Launay； but twenty…five years devoted to humoring the caprices and flattering the tastes of a vain and exacting patroness were not likely to develop his highest possibilities。 There is a point where the stimulating atmosphere of the salon begins to enervate。 His clever assistant； the Abbe Genest； poet and Academician； was a sort of Voiture； witty； versatile； and available。 He tried to put Descartes into verse； which suggests the quality of his poetry。 Sainte…Aulaire； who； like his friend Fontenelle； lived a century； frequented this society more or less for forty years； but his poems are sufficiently light； if one may judge from a few samples； and his genius doubtless caught more reflections in the salon than in a larger world。 He owed his admission to the Academy partly to a tender quatrain which he improvised in praise of his lively patroness。 It is true we have occasional glimpses of Voltaire。 Once he sought an asylum here for two months； after one of his numerous indiscretions； writing tales during the day； which he read to the duchess at night。 Again he came with his 〃divine Emilie；〃 the learned Marquise du Chatelet； who upset the household with her eccentric ways。 〃Our ghosts do not show themselves by day；〃 writes Mlle。 de Launay； 〃they appeared yesterday at ten o'clock in the evening。 I do not think we shall see them earlier today； one is writing high facts； the other； comments upon Newton。 They wish neither to play nor to promenade； they are very useless in a society where their learned writings are of no