Anger would then take the place of lewd desires, and after they had retired he would comfort himself by exchanging with me philosophical considerations.
Compelled to answer him, and not knowing well what to say, I ventured one day upon advising a marriage.

He struck me with amazement when he answered that she refused to marry him from fear of drawing upon herself the hatred of his relatives.
"Then make her the offer of a large sum of money, or a position." "She says that she would not, even for a crown, commit a deadly sin." "In that case, you must either take her by storm, or banish her for ever from your presence." "I can do neither one nor the other; physical as well as moral strength is deficient in me." "Kill her, then." "That will very likely be the case unless I die first." "Indeed I pity your excellency." "Do you sometimes visit her ?" "No, for I might fall in love with her, and I would be miserable." "You are right." Witnessing many such scenes, and taking part in many similar conversations, I became an especial favourite with the old nobleman.

I was invited to his evening assemblies which were, as I have stated before, frequented by superannuated women and witty men.

He told me that in this circle I would learn a science of greater import than Gassendi's philosophy, which I was then studying by his advice instead of Aristotle's, which he turned into ridicule.

He laid down some precepts for my conduct in those assemblies, explaining the necessity of my observing them, as there would be some wonder at a young man of my age being received at such parties.