I continued my journey, very agreeably, through Lombardy.

I saw Milan, Verona, Brescie, and Padua, and at length arrived at Venice, where I was impatiently expected by the ambassador.
I found there piles of despatches, from the court and from other ambassadors, the ciphered part of which he had not been able to read, although he had all the ciphers necessary for that purpose, never having been employed in any office, nor even seen the cipher of a minister.

I was at first apprehensive of meeting with some embarrassment; but I found nothing could be more easy, and in less than a week I had deciphered the whole, which certainly was not worth the trouble; for not to mention the little activity required in the embassy of Venice, it was not to such a man as M.de Montaigu that government would confide a negotiation of even the most trifling importance.

Until my arrival he had been much embarrassed, neither knowing how to dictate nor to write legibly.

I was very useful to him, of which he was sensible; and he treated me well.