At length perceiving me inflexibly resolved, he gave it to M.d'Alibard, formerly tutor to the young Chenonceaux, and known as a botanist by his Flora Parisiensis.
[I doubt not but these circumstances are now differently related by M.Francueil and his consorts: but I appeal to what he said of them at the time and long afterwards, to everybody he knew, until the forming of the conspiracy, and of which men of common sense and honor, must have preserved a remembrance.] However austere my sumptuary reform might be, I did not at first extend it to my linen, which was fine and in great quantity, the remainder of my stock when at Venice, and to which I was particularly attached.

I had made it so much an object of cleanliness, that it became one of luxury, which was rather expensive.

Some persons, however, did me the favor to deliver me from this servitude.

On Christmas Eve, whilst the governesses were at vespers, and I was at the spiritual concert, the door of a garret, in which all our linen was hung up after being washed, was broken open.

Everything was stolen; and amongst other things, forty-two of my shirts, of very fine linen, and which were the principal part of my stock.