Page:Letters of Mlle. de Lespinasse.djvu/51

36 No one knew better how to do the honours of her house ; she put every one in his place, and every one was content with it. She had great knowledge of the world, and that species of politeness which is most agreeable ; I mean that which has the tone of personal interest."

There were times, however, when the sensitive taste of Mile, de Lespinasse was shocked and overcome by occasional vulgarity of manners or expression. Of this the Abb^ Mo- rellet has left an amusing record in his " Memoirs."

" Mile, de Lespinasse," he relates, " loving men of intellect passionately and neglecting no means of knowing them and attracting them to her circle, ardently desired to know M. de Buffon. Mme. Geoffrin, agreeing to procure her that happi- ness, invited Buffon to pass an evening at her house. Behold Mile, de Lespinasse in the seventh heaven, promising herself to observe closely that celebrated man, and not lose a single word that issued from his lips. The conversation having be- gun, on the part of Mile, de Lespinasse by flattering compli- ments, such as she knew so well how to pay, the topic of the art of writing was brought up, and some one remarked, with eulogy, how well M. de Buffon had united clearness with loftiness of style, a union very difficult and rarely produced. ' Oh, the devil ! ' said M. de Buffon, his head high, his eyes partly closed, and with an air half silly, half inspired: that 's another pair of sleeves.' At this speech, this vulgar comparison. Mile, de Lespinasse was visibly troubled; her countenance changed, she threw herself back in her chair, muttering between her teeth, 'Another pair of sleeves! clarify his style ! ' and she did not recover herself the whole evening."
 * oh, the devil! when it comes to clarifying one's style,

But conversation alone was not all that went on in the salon of the rue de Belle-Chasse : academicians were made