Beaumarchais had gained the public ear, but not the critics. As Lintilhac says: “The enterprise did not proceed without scandal, for at the second representation instead of hissing, the public weeps. The critic enraged at the success of the piece cried, ‘It is all the fault of the women--talk to them of _Eugénie_; it is they who have perverted the taste of our dear young people.’ Nevertheless the piece endures in the face of censures and cabals.--He managed his dramatic affairs quite as cleverly as the others. Abuse goes along with success, _tant mieux!_ So much the better, it gives him the opportunity of lashing criticism with witty replies, which he prints with his play in a long preface of justification.” “Into what a wasps’ nest you have put your head,” said Diderot to him. Gudin observes, “He was not one to be frightened at their buzzing, or to stop on his way to kill flies. He was busying himself with a new drama.” That this first production, “This child of my sensibility,” as he called it, was always dear to his heart is proved by the fact that years afterwards Beaumarchais gave the name of Eugénie to his only daughter, of whom we shall have much to say later on. But in the meantime, an event occurred which for a period of two years had an important bearing on his life. To quote Gudin: “It was about this time that Madam B., celebrated for her beauty, came one day to find the sister of Beaumarchais and asked her what her brother was doing as she had not seen him for a long time. “‘I do not know if he is at home, but I believe he is working on his drama.’ “‘I have something to say to him.’ “He was called. He appeared looking like a hermit, his hair in disorder, his beard long, his face illumined by meditation. “‘Well, my friend, what are you busying yourself with when an amiable woman, recently a widow, sought already by several pretendants, might prefer you? I am to ride with her to-morrow in that secluded avenue of the Champs Élysées, which is called _l’allée des Veuves_; mount on horseback, we will meet you there as if by chance; you will speak to me, and then you shall both see whether or not you are suited to one another.’ “The next day Beaumarchais, followed by a domestic, appeared mounted on a superb horse which he managed with grace. He was seen from the coach in which the ladies were riding long before he joined them. The beauty of the steed, the bearing of the cavalier worked in his favor; when he came near, Madam B. said she knew the horseman. Beaumarchais came up and was presented to the lady.