Necker and his wife came over from Paris and paid him a long visit in Bentinck Street, when his laurels were just fresh.

"I live with her" he writes, "just as I used to do twenty years ago, laugh at her Paris varnish, and oblige her to become a simple reasonable Suissesse.

The man, who might read English husbands lessons of proper and dutiful behaviour, is a sensible, good-natured creature." The next year he returned the visit to Paris.

His fame had preceded him, and he received the cordial but discriminating welcome which _the ancien regime_ at that time specially reserved for _gens d'esprit_.

Madame du Deffand writes to Walpole, "Mr.Gibbon has the greatest success here; it is quite a struggle to get him." He did not deny himself a rather sumptuous style of living while in Paris.
Perhaps the recollection of the unpleasant effect of his English clothes and the long waists of the French on his former visit dwelt in his mind, for now, like Walpole, he procured a new outfit at once.
"After decking myself out with silks and silver, the ordinary establishment of coach, lodgings, servants, eating, and pocket expenses, does not exceed 60_l._ per month.