The young baron, a Calvinist like his father, did not like the idle life he was leading at home, and he solicited me to undertake his education in order to fit him for a military career.

Delighted at the opportunity of cultivating his fine natural disposition, I gave up everything to devote myself entirely to my task.

I soon discovered that, in the question of faith, he knew himself to be in error, and that he remained a Calvinist only out of respect to his family.

When I had found out his secret feelings on that head, I had no difficulty in proving to him that his most important interests were involved in that question, as his eternal salvation was at stake.

Struck by the truth of my words, he abandoned himself to my affection, and I took him to Rome, where I presented him to the Pope, Benedict XIV., who, immediately after the abjuration of my pupil got him a lieutenancy in the army of the Duke of Modena.