[161] If Marmontel and Bachaumont are to be believed, this inspiration was as often as not aided by wine, and a servant, glass and bottle in hand, was always in attendance in the wings. [162] Edmond de Goncourt, _Mademoiselle Clairon_, p. 134. [163] See p. 334 _infra._ [164] See p. 322 _infra._ [165] "_Journal et Mémoires_," ii. 33. [166] In Le Franc de Pompignan's _Didon_. [167] Madame Vestris, when a girl, was taken to visit Mlle. Clairon, who appeared to her "a little woman about forty years of age, who had once been pretty." Some days later, she went to the Comédie-Française to witness a performance of _Andromaque_, and, when she saw the celebrated actress in the part of Hermione, cried in astonishment: "That is not Mlle. Clairon!" She was assured that it was, but flatly refused to believe, saying: "See how tall that actress is! I have seen Mlle. Clairon at her house; she is a very little woman." It was Mlle. Clairon none the less.--Edmond de Goncourt, _Mademoiselle Clairon_, p. 171. [168] "Private Correspondence of David Garrick," i. 356. [169] "Private Correspondence of David Garrick," ii. 359. [170] Cited by Adolphe Jullien, _L'Histoire du costume au Théâtre_. [171] In her _Mémoires_, Mlle. Clairon has the effrontery to declare that she never had any cause to be ashamed of her love-affairs, and defies any one to name "a single man who had purchased her favours." [172] Ravaisson, _Archives de la Bastille_, xii. 348. [173] Edmond de Goncourt, _Mademoiselle Clairon_, p. 43 _et seq._ [174] Ravaisson, _Archives de la Bastille_, xii. 292 _et seq._ [175] Ravaisson, _Archives de la Bastille_, xii. 295. From the same report we learn that the Prince of Würtemberg, then on a visit to Paris, had fallen violently in love with Mlle. Gaussin, "_et qu'il a commencé par lui faire un présent de 200 louis pour souper avec elle_." Mlle. Clairon was probably no worse than the other divinities of the Comédie. [176] _Archives_, xii. 295. [177] This was not the only occasion upon which Marmontel trespassed upon Maurice's preserves. He took a similar liberty with the heart of Mlle. de Verrières, "on learning which the Marshal fell into a passion unworthy of so great a man." [178] _Mémoires de Marmontel_ (edit. 1804), i. 266. [179] Marmontel tells us that Mlle. Clairon made "a very desirable mistress." "She had," says he, "all the charms of an agreeable character without any mixture of caprice; while her only desire, her most delicate attentions, were directed towards rendering her lover happy. So long as she loved, no one could be more faithful or more tender than she.... I left her charming, I found her equally, and, if possible, still more charming. What a pity that with so seductive a character so much levity should be joined, and that love so sincere, and even so faithful, should not have been more constant!" [180] _Mémoires de Marmontel_ (edit. 1804), ii. 41 _et seq._