You have a fancy for collecting together different pieces scattered through the Encyclopaedia; nothing can be more opposed to their interests; they put this to you, you insist, the edition is produced, they advance the cost, you share the profits.

It seemed that, after having thus twice paid you for their work, they had a right to look upon it as theirs.

Yet you go in search of a bookseller in some quite different direction, and sell him in a mass what does not belong to you." "They gave me a thousand grounds for dissatisfaction." "_Quelle defaite!_ There are no small things between friends.

Everything weighs, because friendship is a commerce of purity and delicacy; but are the booksellers your friends?
Then your behaviour to them is horrible.
If not, then you have nothing to say against them.

If the public were called upon to judge between you and them, my friend, you would be covered with shame." "What, can it be you, Diderot, who thus take the side of the booksellers ?" "My grievances against them do not prevent me from seeing their grievances against you.