"What sorcerer?" asked Voltaire.
"The famous Count de St. Germain, who has been here since morning."
"Indeed! I wish to find out if he be a charlatan or a fool."
"That is hard to say. He plays his game so well that no one can tell."
"Fools do not act thus," said Algarotti.
"Tell me about Frederick," said La Mettrie. "I wish to pique his curiosity by some good story, so that he may treat us some day to a supper with Saint Germain, who may indulge us with an account of his adventures before the deluge. That will be amusing. Let us think! Where can the king be just now? Baron, you know, for you are too curious not to have followed him."
"Do you wish me to say?" said Poelnitz.
"I hope, sir," said Quintus, flushing with anger, "that you will reply to none of M. de la Mettrie's strange questions. If his majesty——"
"Bah! my dear friend," said La Mettrie, "there is no majesty between ten at night and two in the morning. Frederick has made it statute law, and I am familiar with all its clauses. There is no king at the supper table. Do you not see the poor king is wearied, and, bad servant as you are, you will not aid him for a few hours of the night to forget the weight of greatness."
"I do not wish to know," said Quintus, rising and leaving the table.