"As you please," said Poelnitz. "Let all who do, open their ears and hear."
"Mine are wide open," said La Mettrie.
"Yes, and so are mine," said Algarotti, laughing.
"Gentlemen," said the baron, "his majesty is at the house of La Porporina."
"You play the game well," said La Mettrie; and he made a Latin quotation I do not translate because I do not understand Latin.
Quintus Icilius became pale, and left the room. Algarotti recited an Italian sonnet, which was understood scarcely better; and Voltaire improvised four verses, comparing Frederick with Julius Cesar. After this the three philosophers looked at each other and smiled. Poelnitz then said seriously, "I pledge you my honor, gentlemen, that the king is at Porporina's house."
"Can you tell us nothing else?" asked D'Argens, whom all this displeased; for he was not a man to betray others to increase his own credit.
Poelnitz answered, without troubling himself, "The devil, marquis! When the king tells us you are gone to the house of Mademoiselle Cochois, we are not scandalized. Why should you be, because he has gone to Porporina's?"
"It should, on the other hand, please you," said Algarotti; "and if it be true, I will tell it at Rome."
"And his holiness, who is fond of gossip, will be witty on the matter," said Voltaire.