A woman is easy to govern, provided that a man takes some trouble to do so. Even a single man can be seen governing many; he cultivates their esprit and their memory, fixes and determines their religion; he even undertakes to rule their heart. They neither approve nor disapprove, neither praise nor condemn, until after they have consulted his eyes and countenance. He is the source of their joys and their chagrins, of their desires, of their jealousies, of their hatreds and of their loves; he makes them break from their gallants; he makes them upset at or reconciled to their husbands, and he profits from the intervals in between. He takes care of their affairs, solicits for them in their lawsuits, and goes to see their judges; he gives them his doctor, merchant and craftsmen; he interferes in finding them a residence, he furnishes it, and he orders their carriages. One sees him with them when they take a ride, throughout the streets of the town, and on walks, as well as in their pew at church and in their box at the theater; he makes their visits with them; he accompanies them to the baths, to the waters, on their travels; he has the most comfortable apartment in their country houses. He grows old without losing his authority: a little esprit and a great deal of time to lose was enough for him to keep it; the children, the heirs, the daughter-in-law, the niece, the servants, everyone depends on him. He began by making himself esteemed; he ends by making himself feared. This friend from so long ago, who is so necessary, dies without anyone crying over him; and ten women he was the tyrant of inherit upon his death their freedom.