Early life--Trained by his Father to the Trade of Watchmaker-- Invents an Escapement for Watches--First Lawsuit--_Horloger du Roi_--Enters the Court of Versailles as _Contrôleur clerc d’office_--First Marriage--Assumes the name of Beaumarchais--Death of his Wife--Becomes Music Master to the Princesses of France--Attracts the Attention of Paris du Verney 43 CHAPTER II Induces the Princesses to Visit the _École Militaire_ Established by du Verney--First Financial Successes--Certain Great Lords _mis hors du combat_--“_The Frère Charmant_”-- the Devoted Son--Preparations for Trip to Spain 69 CHAPTER III Adventure with Clavico--Business Negotiations in Spain--Life of Pleasure at the Spanish Capital--Home Interests and Letters 85 CHAPTER IV The Beautiful Creole, Pauline--Beaumarchais the Judge, the Lover, the Friend--Mademoiselle de Boisgarnier Marries Janot de Miron--The Père Caron’s Second Marriage 105 CHAPTER V New study of Beaumarchais by Lintilhac--Beaumarchais’s Return from Madrid--The Lover of Julie Carries off Pauline--the _Règlement de compte_ which Terminated this Romantic Chapter of the Life of Beaumarchais 126 CHAPTER VI “_Eugénie_”--“_Les deux Amis_”--Second Marriage of Beaumarchais--The Forest of Chinon--Death of Madame de Beaumarchais 142 CHAPTER VII The Death of Paris du Verney--The Lawsuit La Blache--Judgment Rendered in Favor of Beaumarchais--The Comte de La Blache-- Appeals to the New Parliament--Private Life of Beaumarchais at This Period 164 CHAPTER VIII Beaumarchais and the Duc de Chaulnes--Attempt Upon the Life of Beaumarchais--Same Evening Gives the Promised Reading of _Le Barbier de Séville_.--Victim of a _Lettre de Cachet_ 178 CHAPTER IX Beaumarchais at For-l’Evêque--Letter to his Little Friend-- Second Trial in the Suit Instituted Against Him by the Count de La Blache--Efforts to secure an Audience with the Reporter Goëzman--Second Judgment Rendered Against Beaumarchais--He Obtains his Liberty--Loudly Demands the Return of his Fifteen Louis 196 CHAPTER X The Goëzman Lawsuit--The Famous Memoirs of Beaumarchais 213 CHAPTER XI