| PAGE |
| Foreword By Hon. James M. Beck | 9 |
| Preface | 17 |
| Historical Introduction | 27 |
| CHAPTER I |
| Early life—Trained by his Father to the Trade of Watchmaker—Invents an Escapement for Watches—First Lawsuit—Horloger du Roi—Enters the Court of Versailles as ContrÔleur clerc d’office—First Marriage—Assumes the name of Beaumarchais—Death of his Wife—Becomes Music Master to the Princesses of France—Attracts the Attention of Paris du Verney | 43 |
| CHAPTER II |
| Induces the Princesses to Visit the École Militaire Established by du Verney—First Financial Successes—Certain Great Lords mis hors du combat—“The FrÈre Charmant”—the Devoted Son—Preparations for Trip to Spain | 69 |
| CHAPTER III |
| Adventure with Clavico—Business Negotiations in Spain—Life of Pleasure at the Spanish Capital—Home Interests and Letters | 85 |
| CHAPTER IV |
| The Beautiful Creole, Pauline—Beaumarchais the Judge, the Lover, the Friend—Mademoiselle de Boisgarnier Marries Janot de Miron—The PÈre Caron’s Second Marriage | 105 |
| CHAPTER V |
| New study of Beaumarchais by Lintilhac—Beaumarchais’s Return from Madrid—The Lover of Julie Carries off Pauline— the RÈglement de compte which Terminated this Romantic Chapter of the Life of Beaumarchais | 126 |
| CHAPTER VI |
| “EugÉnie”—“Les deux Amis”—Second Marriage of Beaumarchais—The Forest of Chinon—Death of Madame de Beaumarchais | 142 |
| CHAPTER VII |
| The Death of Paris du Verney—The Lawsuit La Blache—Judgment Rendered in Favor of Beaumarchais—The Comte de La Blache—Appeals to the New Parliament—Private Life of Beaumarchais at This Period | 164 |
| CHAPTER VIII |
| Beaumarchais and the Duc de Chaulnes—Attempt Upon the Life of Beaumarchais—Same Evening Gives the Promised Reading of Le Barbier de SÉville.—Victim of a Lettre de Cachet | 178 |
| CHAPTER IX |
| Beaumarchais at For-l’EvÊque—Letter to his Little Friend—Second Trial in the Suit Instituted Against Him by the Count de La Blache—Efforts to secure an Audience with the Reporter GoËzman—Second Judgment Rendered Against Beaumarchais—He Obtains his Liberty—Loudly Demands the Return of his Fifteen Louis | 196 |
| CHAPTER X |
| The GoËzman Lawsuit—The Famous Memoirs of Beaumarchais | 213 |
| CHAPTER XI |
| The Preparation of the Memoirs—Aid Rendered by Family and Friends—The Judgment—Beaumarchais blÂme—Enters the Secret Service of the King—Gudin Relates the Circumstances of the Meeting between the Civilly Degraded Man and Her Who Became His Third Wife—The PÈre Caron’s Third Marriage | 235 |
| CHAPTER XII |
| Beaumarchais Goes to London in Quality of Secret Agent of Louis XV—Theveneau de Morande and His Gazetier CuirassÉ— The King Dies—Beaumarchais’s Second Mission Under Louis XVI—Playing Figaro upon the Stage of Life—Visits the Empress of Austria—Is Imprisoned at Vienna—Addresses Memoir to the King—Confers with the Ministers upon the Recall of the Parliaments | 248 |
| CHAPTER XIII |
| The Character of Figaro—The First Performance of Le Barbier de SÉville—Its Success after Failure—Beaumarchais’s Innovation at the Closing of the Theatre—His First Request for an Exact Account from the Actors—Barbier de SÉville at the Petit-Trianon | 269 |
| CHAPTER XIV |
| Beaumarchais Undertakes to Protect the Rights of Dramatic Authors—Lawsuit with the ComÉdie-FranÇaise—Founder of the First Society of Dramatic Authors—Jealousies Among Themselves Retard Success—National Assembly Grants Decree 1791—Final Form Given by Napoleon | 286 |
