This arrangement seemed to me to be so good, reasonable and lawful, that if I did not publicly boast of it, the motive by which I was withheld was merely my regard for their mother: but I mentioned it to all those to whom I had declared our connection, to Diderot, to Grimm, afterwards to M.d'Epinay, and after another interval to Madam de Luxembourg; and this freely and voluntarily, without being under the least necessity of doing it, having it in my power to conceal the step from all the world; for La Gouin was an honest woman, very discreet, and a person on whom I had the greatest reliance.

The only one of my friends to whom it was in some measure my interest to open myself, was Thierry the physician, who had the care of my poor aunt in one of her lyings in, in which she was very ill.

In a word, there was no mystery in my conduct, not only on account of my never having concealed anything from my friends, but because I never found any harm in it.

Everything considered, I chose the best destination for my children, or that which I thought to be such.

I could have wished, and still should be glad, had I been brought up as they have been.
Whilst I was thus communicating what I had done, Madam.