- It's the first day of the rest of his life. Rousseau starts a career as a surveyor in the King's service, thanks to Mama's persuasiveness.
- Rousseau lives in Annecy, with Mama. He scores big and gets a beautiful room in her house.
- Claude Anet is Mama's lover, which makes it a little weird for everyone. Like Rousseau, he's totally devoted to Mama.
- Okay, now we take a quick break from some historical context, courtesy of our guy Rousseau: although it's a peaceful time for him, it's crazy in Europe.
- France and the Emperor have just declared war on each other and, for the first time, Rousseau is really and truly proud to be a Frenchman.
- And now back to our story: Rousseau suggests to Mama that she sponsor a little concert every month. You know, a chance for all the musicians in the area to get together and show off.
- Lots of people love these concerts, but some protest because Mama is living off the King's charity.
- Rousseau meets Father Caton at one of these concerts. He's a Franciscan monk who loves taking part in the monthly party.
- Unfortunately, Father Caton meets a tragic end. His fellow monks are so jealous of him that they make him miserable. The poor guy dies of grief in his cell.
- In the meantime, Rousseau is becoming obsessed with music. He persuades Mama to let him quit his job and devote his life fully to the arts.
- While he's not working, Rousseau studies pretty girls. He's particularly interested in Mlle Mellarede, his young neighbor.
- Rousseau starts taking pupils to earn some extra cash. Those pupils all turn out to be pretty girls—coincidence?
- One of his pupils is a pretty grocer's daughter, Mlle Lard.
- Mlle Lard's mom is more interested in Rousseau, though.
- Mama's still around, though. Reminder time, Shmoopers: "Mama" is Mme de Warens, Rousseau's older lady friend who might be interested in him. It's a little… complicated.
- Mama offers to have sex with Rousseau. Of course, she puts it a little more delicately than that.
- She gives Rousseau eight days to think about her offer, although he has his answer ready immediately.
- Here's the tricky part: Mama is already Claude Anet's mistress. Still, Rousseau decides to accept Mama's offer, despite the complications.
- Although it's a little weird for him, Rousseau feels like the experience brings him closer to his friend.
- Life continues to pass. Mama is dedicated to a cool new project: creating a royal botanical garden.
- One day, tragedy strikes. Claude is in search of a rare plant for the garden when he's overcome by the heat. He dies within five days.
- Rousseau is devastated. Well, he says he is. But he can't help thinking that he'll inherit Claude's favorite black coat.
- Now, it's Rousseau's job to watch over Mama and her monetary affairs. Cue an evil laugh.
- Influenced by his old pal Venture, Rousseau decides to take some music lessons in Annecy from Venture's composition master. Of course, he'll need lots of money for travel.
- Unfortunately, his traveling trunk is seized and confiscated at a French customs office.
- They've found evidence that Rousseau is reading some heretical material. In other words, he's got some stuff that's against the law.
- Rousseau loses a lot of money from this mishap. He loses Mama's money, to be specific.
- Now, Rousseau is getting to a point in his story where his present overlaps with his past.
- He has one special friend from those days: a guy named M. de Gauffecourt.
- Another fellow, M. de Conzie, shares Rousseau's interest in music and reading Voltaire.
- Rousseau does a lot of traveling, thanks to Mama's money. He's trying to figure out how to help cut her expenses on these journeys. (It sounds like a likely story to us, Rousseau.)
- Rousseau learns chess from a dude named M. Bagueret. The guy beats him every time without any mercy.
- Every time Rousseau dedicates his life to playing games (like gambling), he becomes very ill.
- He gets sick, just like clockwork, after playing lots of chess with Bagueret.
- Only Mama's care can save him. She nurses him back to health.
- Rousseau proposes that Mama move away with him. The two head off in the sunset to Les Charmettes, a secluded nearby estate where nothing will disturb them. But Rousseau's got more in store for his readers than a simple happy ending.