2500. They are of the kind [living] in palaces who do not at all strive toward the good of society, but who only pretend, looking out for themselves, and who are consequently unfit for any function in society, in fact useless, because they above all love idleness, provided only they can live sumptuously, with fine clothes, and grow rich having no other cares. People such as these grow accustomed to such deceptions, and make their way inside and are even esteemed, before others. They become intimate particularly by dispensing sundry flatteries and pretended favors in dealing with those who administer the master's goods, so that they may thereby grow rich and thus secretly, without the master knowing, enjoy his goods, praising those from whom they obtain profit, also making friends with cooks, and accountants, and especially with female housekeepers, maids and the like, so that all things will turn out to their profit. 1748, 3 July.