[60] The man who is known to history for having reviled the young Voltaire, now one of d'Argenson's schoolfellows, as the future coryphæus of deism in France.
[61] We are indebted to St. Simon for this explanation of the young d'Argensons' escape. See "Mémoires," XIII. pp. 213, 214. The incident aptly illustrates the mysterious power which the Chief of Police exercised.
[62] "Je me trouvais trop sot de n'en avoir profité, et j'en ai eu depuis de longs repentirs" (Journal, Rathery, I. p. 19).
[63] "L'épopée royale" (Arsène Houssaye, "La Régence," p. 4).
[64] See Martin, "Histoire de France," XIV. pp. 366-617.
[65] See p. 15; St. Simon's "Mémoires," VII. p. 71; and Fontenelle, I. p. 315.
[66] With this, the most famous society of the time, d'Argenson was only remotely connected. He tells us ["Loisirs d'un Ministre," I. p. 187 (1785)] that he had met and talked with Chaulieu occasionally at the Duchesse de Maine's, whither the "Anacreon of the Temple" was attracted by his passion for the famous Mdlle. de Launay.
[67] E.g., Journal (Rathery), I. p. 186.
[68] Ibid., I. p. 6, cf. p. 16.
[69] See p. 17., cf. Journal (Rathery), I. p. 42.