You were curious to know the man's name; there it is. He is the nephew of the famous composer who has saved us from the church music of Lulli which we have been chanting for a hundred years, ... and who, having buried the Florentine, will himself be buried by Italian virtuosi; he dimly feels this, and so has become morose and irritable, for no one can be in a worse humor--not even a beautiful woman who in the morning finds a pimple on her nose--than an author who sees himself threatened with the fate of outliving his reputation, as Marivaux and Crébillon _fils_ prove. Rameau's nephew came up to me. "Ah, my philosopher, do I meet you once again? What are you doing here among the good-for-nothings? Are you wasting your time pushing bits of wood about?" _I_--No; but when I have nothing better to do, I take a passing pleasure in watching those who push them about with skill. _He_--A rare pleasure, surely. Excepting Légal and Philidor, there is no one here that understands it.... _I_--You are hard to please. I see that only the best finds favor with you. _He_--Yes, in chess, checkers, poetry, oratory, music, and such other trumpery. Of what possible use is mediocrity in these things? _I_--I am almost ready to agree with you.... _He_--You have always shown some interest in me, because I'm a poor devil whom you really despise, but who after all amuses you. _I_--That is true. _He_--Then let me tell you. (Before beginning, he drew a deep sigh, covered his forehead with both hands, then with calm countenance continued:--) You know I am ignorant, foolish, silly, shameless, rascally, gluttonous. _I_--What a panegyric! _He_--It is entirely true. Not a word to be abated; no contradiction, I pray you. No one knows me better than I know myself, and I don't tell all. _I_--Rather than anger you, I will assent. _He_--Now, just think, I lived with people who valued me precisely because all these qualities were mine in a high degree. _I_--That is most remarkable. I have hitherto believed that people concealed these qualities even from themselves, or excused them, but always despised them in others.