But the moment I acquired literary fame, I had no longer a friend.

This, was a great misfortune; but a still greater was that of being surrounded by people who called themselves my friends, and used the rights attached to that sacred name to lead me on to destruction.

The succeeding part of these memoirs will explain this odious conspiracy.

I here speak of its origin, and the manner of the first intrigue will shortly appear.
In the independence in which I lived, it was, however, necessary to subsist.

To this effect I thought of very simple means: which were copying music at so much a page.