"What are you talking about," said he, "you seem agitated?"
"Of M. de Voltaire, sire," I replied, with so much presence of
mind as to please the duc de Richelieu.
"What, is he at his tricks again? Have you any cause of complaint
against him?"
"Quite the reverse; he has charged M. d'Argental to say to M. de
Richelieu, that he was sorry that he could not come and prostrate
himself at my feet."
"Ah," said the king, remembering the letter to the duc d'Aiguillon,
"he persists in his coquetries towards you: that is better than
being lampooned by him. But do not place too much confidence in
this gentleman of the chamber: he weighs every thing in two scales;
and I doubt much whether he will spare you when he evinces but
little consideration for me."
Certainly Richelieu had a good opportunity of undertaking the
defence of his illustrious friend. He did no such thing; and I
have always thought that Voltaire was the person whom the duke
detested more heartily than any other person in the world. He did,
in fact, dread him too much to esteem him as a real friend.
"M. d'Argental," said the king, "unites then at my court the double
function of minister of Parma and steward of Ferney.* Are these
two offices compatible?"
*The name of Voltaire's residence- TRANS
"Yes, sire," replied the duke, laughing, "since he has not
presented officially to your majesty the letters of his creation as
comte de Tournay.
Pages:
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222