"If," said Diderot to him, "six months ago, when we met to deliberate on the continuation of the work, you had then proposed these terms, the booksellers would have closed with them on the spot, but now, when they have the strongest reasons to be out of humour with you, that is another thing." "And pray, what reasons ?" "Can you ask me ?" "Certainly." "Then I will tell you.

You have a bargain with the booksellers; the terms are stipulated; you have nothing to ask beyond them.

If you worked harder than you were bound to do, that was out of your interest in the book, out of friendship to me, out of respect for yourself; people do not pay in money for such motives as these.

Still they sent you twenty louis a volume: that makes a hundred and forty louis that you had beyond what was due to you.

You plan a journey to Wesel [in 1752, to meet Frederick of Prussia] at a time when you were wanted by them here; they do not detain you; on the contrary, you are short of money, and they supply you.